Cédric Cornet, the mayor of Gosier, in Guadeloupe, was arrested and placed in police custody “when he got off the plane” Wednesday, July 27, announced the public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre, Patrick Desjardins, to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Mr. Cornet had been wanted since July 20 in a case of alleged embezzlement.
“A search is underway in two homes”also specified the prosecution, confirming information from the local media.
A search warrant had been issued against the Guadeloupe elected official, who had not shown up for a summons. The public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre had then spoken of a “displayed desire not to honor” this summons from the aedile.
Corruption active et passive
The elected official was to be heard by the police as part of an open preliminary investigation “including heads of concealment of misuse of corporate assets, embezzlement of public funds and active and passive corruption”according to the prosecution.
Cédric Cornet had disputed, in the local media, having been informed of his summons and he had denounced, by a press release from his lawyer, a “relentlessness” against his person. He also explained that he was “on honeymoon” and said to himself “ready to cut it short”stating that he had no intention of evading justice.
Cédric Cornet has been registered in the sex offender file since his conviction on appeal in 2019 to two years in prison suspended, five years of socio-judicial follow-up and a fine of 16,000 euros for sexual assault on a young girl under 15 years old. He had been elected mayor of Gosier the following year.