Michel Chapuis (UDI) was heard on Wednesday as part of a survey carried out by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office on the concession of operation of a hall. Police custody was lifted on Wednesday evening.
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The mayor UDI of Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire), Michel Chapuis, was placed in police custody on Wednesday June 22 as part of a survey carried out by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF). This measure, lifted the same evening, was taken as part of a case of suspicion of favoritism concerning the concession of exploitation of a hall with metallic structure of the 19th century, located in the city center.
The gendarmerie investigators have undertaken to hear several people in Puy since Monday, June 20, including territorial officials, but also elected officials. Already, at the end of March, around thirty investigators, accompanied by PNF magistrates, had searched the town hall premises, the Puy agglomeration community and the homes of several people. The mayor had been under house arrest in his office for part of the day, while computer equipment was seized. Four people had then been the subject of police custody.
History begins during 2020, when the municipality decides to rehabilitate the hall, then entrust its management to an operator, through a public service delegation. The idea: to develop a “gourmet” space, to enhance the hall and its surroundings.
a turnover estimated at 8 million euros
At the end of 2021, the public market, relating to a turnover estimated at 8 million euros over ten years, is awarded to a restaurateur in Puy, Guillaume Fourcade. Very quickly, its unhappy competitor accused the city of having rigged the process. Restaurateur also, Alexis Haon filed two complaints in February 2022, one with the prosecutor of Puy-en-Velay and the other before the administrative court of Clermont-Ferrand.
In parallel, clandestine recordings made in the town hall premises are paid to the file. It turns out that some territorial officials have expanded to promote the Fourcade project, including by partially rewriting it, to the detriment of that of Alexis Haon. 31 years old, he had appeared, during the municipal elections of 2020, on an opposition list to Michel Chapuis, close to the regional president and former mayor of Puy-en-Velay, Laurent Wauquiez. In one of the clandestine recordings, we heard a territorial official affirm that a victory of Alexis Haon was not possible, because she would have greatly displeased Mr. Wauquiez.
Contacted by Le Monde, Mr. Chapuis reacted Thursday, June 23 at the end of the day: “As part of the investigation which affects the town hall, and after all the hearings already intervened, it was obvious and legitimate that As mayor, I meet the PNF’s request to hear myself. “The investigation continues in a preliminary, confirms the PNF.