William Molinié, edited by Laura Laplaud
Justice on Thursday revoked the electronic bracelet of the Balkany spouses, sentenced to three years in prison for massive tax evasion in March 2020. “Shocked” by this decision, Isabelle Balkany attempted suicide by swallowing a box of drugs. She has since been hospitalized in Evreux.
“An unjust and shocking decision”, declared Patrick Balkany on Thursday evening on Europe 1. Justice took the decision to revoke his electronic bracelet as well as that of his wife, Isabelle Balkany. A decision that opens the way to their incarceration. But will the Balkany spouses return to prison? Everything depends on the speed with which justice will carry out this decision.
The prison box in sight
Justice can wait for the period of 5 days which corresponds to the time granted for an appeal in cassation. But in any case, this appeal would not be suspensive and therefore, the prison box would always remain in the line of fire.
Only a state of health, deemed incompatible with detention, could then prevent them from going behind bars. It is for this reason that Patrick Balkany left the remand center a year and a half ago, placed under judicial control.
Thursday, justice considered that they had not respected the device of electronic bracelet. A hundred incidents have been noted in one year in their Giverny property where they are under house arrest. The Balkany spouses consider these shortcomings to be minor. They explained that the bracelet beeps for example when they go to pick up the mail at the gate. Their lawyers called the decision disturbing and unfair.