Exchanges between the former head of state and his lawyer Thierry Herzog on a dedicated line found the accusations of corruption for which they were condemned at first instance.
By Pascale Robert-Diard
At the entrance to the courtroom on Tuesday, December 6, the safety instructions are as strict as in an airport. Passage of portico, excavation of the bags in search of any recording material, double identity control, suspicious verification of each mobile phone which must be slipped, extinguished, in a transparent and sealed plastic bag. It’s listening day to the Paris Court of Appeal.
Sitted side by side on the bench, Nicolas Sarkozy and Thierry Herzog leaf through the two thick bundles of papers placed in front of them, which contain the entire transcription of their conversations, in 2014, on the occult line recorded in the name of Paul Bismuth. The name of this old college boyfriend spontaneously returned to the mind of Thierry Herzog when, in a Nice shop, he had acquired two Puce phones and asked for the opening of a line. A dedicated number, thanks to which the lawyer thought he could discreet discreetly with his client and friend Nicolas Sarkozy, unlike the official line of the latter, which they suspected, rightly, to be listened to within the framework of the ‘Investigation of the alleged funding of the 2007 presidential campaign by Libya de Khadafi.
But reckless – “Call me on the other phone” – had alerted the police ears and launched the listening affair.
These intercepted conversations found the accusations of active and passive corruption, trafficking in influence, violation and concealment of violation of the secrecy of the investigation, which earned the former President of the Republic, his lawyer and the ‘Ex-advisor at the Court of Cassation, Gilbert Azibert, a conviction to three years’ imprisonment, one year firm at first instance. We know the text, but until Tuesday, September 6, we were unaware of the tone. That of the president of the court, Sophie Clément, is deliberately neutral, when she announces: “So here are the listenings of the bismuth line, in chronological order.”
“Allo Thierry?
– Yes. Nicolas, how are you?
– I don’t mind?
– No, not at all. How are you ? “
The first feeling, listening to the twenty-four audio files of conversations intercepted between January 29 and February 26, 2014, is discomfort. Some of the words exchanged are at the heart of the secrecy of the conversation between a lawyer and his client, developing their defense strategy, soupting their chances, evaluating and cursing their judges.
“Gilbert” inquire
The other difficulty comes from the several minutes cuts made at the heart of each of the conversations recorded by the police officer in charge of listening, the only master of what was or not transcriptible. “What tells us that what is not transcribed is not in discharge?” Asked Thierry Herzog’s lawyer, M e Hervé Temime. I do not do not know it, but I cannot ask for the rest of the conversations. “
You have 65.01% of this article to read. The continuation is reserved for subscribers.