Mayor of Lecci in Corsica sentenced for illegal taking of interest

On the basis of "several anonymous denunciations and then a report from the services of the Corse-du-sud prefecture, a preliminary investigation was opened at the beginning of 2023 in order to determine the conditions of the realization of several real estate transactions on the territory of the commune of Lecci (Corse-du-Sud)", located near Porto-Vecchio, specifies, in a press release, the public prosecutor of Bastia, Jean-Philippe Navarre, head of the economic and financial center of Bastia.

This investigation carried out by the research section of the Corsican gendarmerie revealed "that during the period from 2014 to 2022, six planning permits and nearly fifty building permits had been issued by the mayor of the commune, Don Georges Gianni, for the benefit of companies involving his sons Matthieu and Nicolas Gianni", the prosecutor continued.

When heard, the mayor of Lecci, also president of the Corsican Waste Recovery Syndicate (Syvadec), "recognized the materiality of the facts with which he was accused, described as illegal taking of interest by a person holding an elected mandate" and accepted "a judgment on prior admission of guilt," according to the magistrate.

On Wednesday, following his appearance before the criminal court, he was sentenced to "five months' suspended imprisonment and a €5.000 fine" for illegal taking of interest, said Mr. Navarre, who added that "this sentence is not accompanied by a sentence of ineligibility" in view of "the measures taken by the municipality since the facts were revealed to prevent the repetition of the offenses."