The Maudet affair is not over yet: the Federal Supreme Court has partially upheld a complaint from the Geneva public prosecutor’s office and has referred the case back to the subdistrict court. It overturns the acquittals of Pierre Maudet and his former chief of staff Patrick Baud-Lavigne on charges of accepting benefits in connection with the trip to Abu Dhabi.
The acquittals of Genevan entrepreneurs Magid Khoury and Antoine Darum, who organized the trip, on charges of granting benefits, were also overturned. On the other hand, the Federal Supreme Court upheld the acquittals of those involved with regard to the funding of an investigation.
The prosecution had demanded 14 months probation
Maudet was acquitted at the beginning of January by the cantonal judge of Geneva. This saw the fact of accepting an advantage as unfulfilled. The Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office had demanded a 14-month suspended prison sentence against Maudet.
The former councilor of state traveled to Abu Dhabi in November 2015 with his family, his then chief of staff Baud-Lavigne and two Geneva businessmen, Khoury and Eltern, to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix. This trip, which cost an estimated 50,000 francs, was paid for by the royal family of Abu Dhabi.
Guilty verdict at the worst possible time
The verdict of the highest judges does not suit Maudet. He wants to run for the Council of State again next spring in the Geneva elections. (SDA/sf)
Source:Blick
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