No doubt he is still mulling over this opportunity that he was unable to seize. When the courts proposed to Christian L. a penal composition for the settlement of all accounts, in return for 1000 euros to be paid, this physiotherapist refused. He didn't understand why he still had to put his hand in his pocket, after having repaid nearly 70,000 euros to Social Security.
This is how this masso-physiotherapist finds himself at the bar of the Nice criminal court, this Wednesday, at the age of 60. He is answerable for fraud at the CPAM over two periods as long as they are old: 29,600 euros received unduly between 2011 and 2014, 58,200 euros collected between 2015 and 2017. He has already paid the second sum, as well as a slate of 10,000 euros targeting the period 2018-2019.
In total, Christian L. therefore defrauded Social Security for nearly 100,000 euros in fictitious care. “He billed for sessions while a patient was hospitalized. He billed for care while he was traveling with a basketball team”traces President Edouard Levrault.
One day, a patient was surprised. He only came to the office three times, and was billed for twenty sessions. When questioned, his physiotherapist would have replied: “It’s not you who pays but the CPAM”.
“My secretary was abusive”
Sheepish at the helm, Christian L. explains himself awkwardly. “There are things that are… I had an assistant. And I had a secretary who anticipated the sessions. I recognize that my secretary was abusive. I thought I had already paid my debt to Social Security.”
Faced with President Levrault's astonishment, Me Fanny Michel clarified her client's position: “He admits the facts.” However, she describes a man whose career has been dented by burn-out, “which made him lose part of his memory”. A professional “recognized for his humanity, close to people”who is “in the process of rebuilding” in the private sector.
The court follows the requisitions of prosecutor Marie-Eve Parant. He punishes this misuse of the third party payer with 8 months suspended prison sentence. The CPAM, represented by Me Magali Di Crosta, is now awaiting reimbursement of the remaining 29,000 euros.
