Investigation around a plot pre-empted by the Collectivity of Corsica on the island of Cavallo

The preliminary investigation was opened against Navarre.

Concussion is the fact, for a person entrusted with a public service mission, of not receiving a sum due (tax, etc.) or of receiving an undue amount.

The case concerns the purchase by pre-emption at the end of 2018 by the Collectivity of Corsica of a plot of 3,3 hectares for two million euros on the island of Cavallo, attached to the commune of Bonifacio (South Corsica). ) and almost privatized.

However, an active restaurant was located on this plot and a commercial lease in force until the end of 2026 prevents the Community from developing the land with a view to opening it to the public, notes the CRC in a report published on January 15.

She also points out that the community headed by Mr. Simeoni decided "not to recover any (of) the annual rents owed" by the restaurant, i.e. a shortfall of "20.000 euros per year", and refused to pay the co-ownership charges (11.000 euros per year), charges paid by the tenant.

“Crapulery, infamy, barbouzerie”

The objective of this pre-emption was to "allow all public authorities to re-establish the rule of law on the island of Cavallo", "symbol and archetype of land and real estate speculation (..) and financial transactions occult for decades", Gilles Simeoni defended himself in his written response to the CRC.

“The same applies to the refusal to collect rents or to pay co-ownership charges from the co-owners' union”, which “participates through its operation” in “the privatization of the island's beaches”, he had justified.

The elected official also denies having purchased this land too expensively, while the chamber considers that by acquiring this plot for "60 euros per square meter" the Community paid a price "much higher" than similar sensitive natural spaces acquired by the Conservatoire du Littoral in the extreme south of Corsica. “The two million invested by the Community for 3,3 hectares corresponded to a potential purchase of at least 100 hectares in the far south,” according to the CRC.

On this point, Gilles Simeoni responded that "the average price of undeveloped land on the island of Cavallo was 126,27 euros per square meter, or more than double" than what the Community paid.

Final remark from the Chamber: "The transformation of the plot into a sensitive natural space and its opening to the public from 2027, the basis of the pre-emption decision, could be costly and complex to achieve", the Community having to "pay compensation for 'eviction if it decides not to renew the commercial lease' of the restaurant.

This CRC report was cited on Wednesday by Le Canard Enchaîné to attribute to Gilles Simeoni "funny links" with the Corsican criminal gang of "Petit Bar", which would be behind the management of this restaurant.

In reaction, Gilles Simeoni strongly defended himself Thursday before the Corsican Assembly, receiving the unanimous support of the hemicycle, pleading that if this article was true, he should "not remain in (his) functions".

Assuring that he has always been keen to "defend the interests of Corsica and the Corsicans", the elected autonomist denounced "a villainy, an infamy and perhaps a charade".