BFMTV INFO – The LFI deputy for Val-d’Oise is suspected of having concealed from the authorities a sum estimated at just under 200,000 euros. In particular, he would have reduced the declaration of turnover of one of his companies for several years.
The Pontoise public prosecutor’s office (Val-d’Oise) opened a preliminary investigation in mid-April into acts of tax evasion, money laundering of tax evasion, misuse of corporate assets and failure to comply with reporting obligations to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) likely to be blamed for LFI MP Carlos Martens Bilongo, according to information from BFMTV.
It all started with a report from Tracfin, Bercy’s anti-money laundering unit. This has identified bank flows that seem irregular and unrelated to its tax returns, on the one hand, and the HATVP, on the other. Tracfin’s analysis covers the period from 2018 to 2022.
Nearly 200,000 euros hidden
Investigators uncovered several suspicious transactions. Although he declared that he received no remuneration from his companies with the HATVP, Carlos Martens Bilongo nevertheless, according to Tracfin, received various transfers to his bank accounts. As well as cash receipts for several tens of thousands of euros.
In addition, the anti-money laundering unit of Bercy also detected that one of its companies, Espace Code, would have reduced its declaration of turnover over several years. In total, according to the first elements of the investigation, the LFI deputy would have concealed from the authorities a sum estimated at just under 200,000 euros.
In its report to the courts, Tracfin also specifies that the deputy holds an undeclared account abroad, obviously in an Eastern European country.
The chosen one surprised by the investigation
Contacted by BFMTV, the Pontoise public prosecutor’s office indicated that it did not want to comment “at this stage” on this case. For his part, Carlos Martens Bilongo, whom BFMTV contacted, initially indicated that he was not aware of anything. Surprised by the existence of this investigation, he explained that he was going to take stock with his accountant.
In the evening this Thursday, the deputy published a press release in which he pleaded for “transparency” by claiming never to have opened “a bank account abroad for personal reasons” and for his companies.
“The only thing that could have a connection with Eastern Europe is the use of the “Revolut” application for online payments. The balance of this account is 106 euros,” he said. also specified.
He finally indicated that he should “know the content within a few days” of the analysis of his tax returns and account statements by his lawyer “to ensure that no declarative error could have been made” .