The decision fell in the Respire + case, named after this surgical mask company created during the health crisis in Guadeloupe. Rodrigue Solitude, the former chief of staff of the Regional Council, was found guilty of illegal taking of interests by the Pointe-à-Pitre criminal court and sentenced.
Rodrigue Solitude was found guilty of illegal taking of interest by the Pointe-à-Pitre criminal court. The former chief of staff of the Regional Council was sentenced to 12 months suspended prison sentence and 15,000 euros fine.
The current interim director general of the Tourism Committee of the Islands of Guadeloupe is also sentenced to 5 years of ineligibility and 5 years of prohibition from holding a position as public service manager.
Rodrigue Solitude, was prosecuted for illegal taking of interests. He was accused of having taken advantage of his position closest to power to facilitate the obtaining of a subsidy of 450,000 euros for the mask manufacturing company Respire +.
The prosecution had requested a 2-year suspended prison sentence for the defendant, a fine of €40,000 and a 5-year ban on public service.
As soon as he left the hearing, he announced his intention to appeal the decision.
The first surgical mask manufacturing plant in the Antilles, Respire +, was created urgently and inaugurated in September 2020, notably with regional funds (a grant of 450,000 euros). The objective was to provide the population of the archipelago with this essential accessory during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Less than three years later, the site was no longer producing anything. The company was sold at auction in April 2023, for an amount of nearly 20,000 euros.
After liquidation, the damage was estimated at more than one million euros by the receiver.
The director of the company, Patrick Maldhé, became a civil party in this affair. Through his lawyer, Me Josselin Troupé, he said he was satisfied with the decision.
