They enriched themselves by endangering more than a thousand lives. This Wednesday, the public prosecutor of the Évry-Courcouronnes court (Essonne) requested sentences of up to two years in prison against the ten defendants involved in a vast system of putting wrecked vehicles back into circulation .
These seriously damaged vehicles (VGE) were bought and then “made up” by wreckers and crooked mechanics from Essonne. Instead of carrying out the necessary repairs to the safety devices, they only made cosmetic alterations, using stolen, untraceable parts purchased at a lower cost.
To camouflage the picture, they then went through a firm of experts in Val-d'Oise, some of whom were portrayed as “professional forgers” and the “keystone of the fraudulent system” by the prosecutor. Supposed to check the repairs several times and ensure the traceability of the parts before putting the vehicle back into circulation, these experts, one of whom “is still active in the automobile sector”, admitted to having drawn up false reports “by luring the gain” or “for ease”.
“Exceptionally serious acts” committed between 2011 and 2015 on more than 5,000 vehicles to the detriment of more than 1,300 victims, of whom only a hundred filed a civil suit. And for which the defendants have been on trial since November 4 for organized gang fraud, endangering others, establishing an inaccurate certificate and carrying out hidden work.
“The purchase of the wrecks was only economically viable because this entire chain violated its legal obligations and was based on fraudulent intentions,” insists the prosecutor. And the magistrate emphasized that “none of the defendants were able to communicate the slightest exculpatory document”.
Described as “the first beneficiary” of this fraudulent scheme, the “de facto manager” of the appraisal company took the lion's share since the offense would have earned him nearly 900,000 euros. Against him, the public prosecutor requested four years of imprisonment, two of which were suspended on probation, a fine of 50,000 euros and the confiscation of the sums and property seized during the investigation.
With the exception of three defendants, sentences ranging from 10 months to 3 years in prison with a suspended period as well as a ban on carrying out their respective activities for five years were requested against the other defendants. The judgment is reserved and the court will render its decision on February 7, 2025.
