He is now in the hands of the courts. The mayor of the city of Gosier, in Guadeloupe, wanted since July 20 in a case of alleged embezzlement, was arrested and placed in police custody “when he got off the plane” on Wednesday, told AFP the public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre.
“A search is underway in two homes”, also specified the prosecution, confirming local media information. A search warrant had been issued against the Guadeloupe elected official, Cédric Cornet, who had not appeared for a summons in a case of alleged embezzlement. The public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre, Patrick Desjardins, had then spoken of a “displayed desire not to honor” this summons, on the part of the city councilor.
“Honeymoon”
The elected official was to be heard by the police as part of an open preliminary investigation “in particular of the heads of concealment of abuse of corporate assets, embezzlement of public funds and active and passive corruption”, according to the prosecution.
Cédric Cornet had disputed, in the local media, to have been informed of his summons and denounced – via a press release from his lawyer – a “relentlessness” against his person. He had also indicated that he was “on honeymoon” and said he was “ready to shorten it”, specifying 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 minor under 15 years old. He had been elected mayor of Gosier the following year.