Carla Bruni-Sarkozy had initially denied that the phone was at the center of the investigation into Ziad Takieddine’s retraction of his allegations of Libyan financing of her husband Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. But before the judges at the beginning of July, the artist claimed to remember the phrase, ruling out any infringement, according to his statements before the judges of which Agence France-Presse (AFP) has just learned.
On July 9, the wife of the former head of state (2007-2012) was accused by two Parisian judges of covering up witness tampering and criminal association with a view to fraud in trials organized by gangs.
In this court case opened in mid-2021, Nicolas Sarkozy was implicated in October 2023, suspected of having approved maneuvers to obtain, at the end of 2020, a temporary change of course for Ziad Takieddine, the main accused witness in this notorious matter. , most of which will be tried in early 2025. In total, a dozen people are involved to varying degrees.
Line “43 97”
At the center of the investigations, a telephone nicknamed “43 97”. The judges suspect that it was used by the Sarkozy couple to discreetly exchange with “Mimi” (Michèle) Marchand, former pope of the celebrity press and former friend of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, also implicated.
Before the police, in May, the latter had denied having that line or knowing about the alleged initiatives to exonerate her husband. Cornered by the investigators’ questions about the inconsistencies in her version, she blurted out: “I’m trying to find explanations. »
But on July 9, according to her statements before the judges, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy ended up admitting to having “I used this phone occasionally sometimes.” “It was the police who told me, because I didn’t remember.”said. “This line is not an occult line as I read in the press”assured; she had been “open for [s]‘children’. She also remembered who helped her, such as the police, to refresh her memory.
He justified its use because his main line would have been blocked abroad, his regular phone would have been damaged “while driving the ElliptiGO” (an elliptical bike) or because their messaging services have been hacked.
But, although Carla Bruni-Sarkozy acknowledged the evidence of possession of “43 97”, she insisted on denying being the author and recipient of the SMS exchanged with Mimi Marchand that appear to be related to the so-called “Save Sarko” operation. .
“Absolute coincidence”
“On October 18, 2020 he found out that Mimi Marchand is leaving for Lebanon” Meet Ziad Takieddine, “On October 22 you ask him when he arrives if everything is okay, and on October 1Ahem In November you receive a long report message. Do you understand what we are asking? »says one of the judges.
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Carla Bruni-Sarkozy then denies having read this last message, but the judge technically proves otherwise. “Whose act. “I have no memory”declares the model. “Is Nicolas Sarkozy the final recipient? » of the report, we asked. “I didn’t read it and I didn’t let anyone read it.”Carla Bruni-Sarkozy further testifies.
“How do you explain it?” that this phone appears on dates “Enough keys?” » in the alleged operation, the magistrates later questioned. “For me it is an absolute coincidence”the artist certifies, a coincidence orchestrated, according to her, by Mimi Marchand, who “lies”WHO “manipulates” and by whom she now nourishes “hostility” fictional: “Someone who went to prison is never by chance.”entry Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
Asked by AFP, their lawyers Paul Mallet and Benoît Martinez responded that this line was open. “long before” the operation that is the subject of this investigation and is “therefore not related to”. “Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will provide evidence that demonstrates that [l’a] “He used to occasionally communicate with family members who have no relationship with the procedure.”they added.
As this case nears its conclusion, former President Sarkozy, whose lawyer did not respond to AFP, is trying to obtain from the Paris Court of Appeal the annulment of his accusation and the disorientation of judicial information. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy “will exercise all avenues of appeal”his lawyers said.
Also interviewed by AFP, Mmy Caroline Toby announced that her client Mimi Marchand ” has[vait] He learned with astonishment of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’s harsh statements towards him. She has always maintained that neither she nor her husband were directly or indirectly involved. [dans les] alleged facts. “She doesn’t understand this test of intent.”.
