Suspected of tax evasion, the former minister Caroline Cayeux is liable to a prison sentence. But at this stage, the file is very far from reaching that point.
She was not the most prominent minister among the members of the government: it is once again a hitch, this time of size, which highlights her. Caroline Cayeux, former Minister in charge of Local Authorities, is the subject of a report to the Paris public prosecutor for facts which can be qualified as “false evaluation of her assets” and “tax fraud” according to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP). The former mayor of Beauvais (Oise) is accused of having knowingly undervalued two properties belonging to him for a total amount of 3.9 million euros. Therefore, what does the elected 74-year-old risk?
What the law says ?
The law provides for prison sentences for the two counts that could be characterized in the eyes of the HATVP. For a public official subject to reporting obligations such as a minister, providing a false valuation of her assets is punishable by a three-year prison sentence and a fine of €45,000. The deprivation of civic rights (voting in particular) and the prohibition to exercise a public function can also be pronounced.
As far as tax evasion is concerned, the law is tougher since it provides for up to 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to €500,000. In the event of acts qualified as aggravated for various reasons, the prison sentence can be raised to 7 years and the fine to 3 million euros.
Caroline Cayeux will she go to prison?
At this stage, only one report has been sent by the HATVP to the Paris public prosecutor. “The High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life has decided to inform the public prosecutor of facts likely to characterize criminal offenses” indicated the body on Tuesday, November 29. For the time being, the Paris prosecutor’s office has not spoken and has not indicated whether or not it has opened an investigation into these suspicions concerning the former minister. However, without an investigation, Caroline Cayeux cannot be worried. Presumed innocent of the facts which would be likely to characterize two criminal offences, she is, at this stage, excluded from any possible conviction. The HATVP only has a role of control and not of indictment.