Marie Arena’s defense, however, demanded since the start of the investigation that their client be heard by the investigating judge, and that she be able to have access to the file. Which will now be the case, since after her hearing, Marie Arena was indicted by the judge, but not for corruption or money laundering. It is explained exclusively by The Free.
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gull“I am not indicted for corruption. I am not indicted for money laundering. I am only indicted because I am a member of a ‘criminal organization’. For two years, I saw my name smeared and thrown around in the press with accusations referring to gifts that I allegedly received in exchange for favors – since that’s what corruption is – and in the end, the judge took none of this into account.”
A “quiet indictment”
“I have finally been heard. I am not charged with corruption. I am not charged with money laundering. I am only charged because I am a member of a ‘criminal organization’, she begins. For two years, I saw my name smeared and tossed around in the press with accusations of gifts that I allegedly received in exchange for favors – since that is what corruption is – and finally, the judge did not nothing remembered from all of this. No corruption as far as I’m concerned. I am being charged with a pseudo-offense to try to cover up two years of negligence on the part of the justice system, after two years of legal-media lynching.”
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Marie Arena seems almost relieved by the situation. Isn’t this paradoxical since there is, despite everything, an indictment at the end?
“I have not been provided with any evidence, or even clues that justify this charge. In reality, there is nothing to reproach me for, pose Marie Arena. The investigating judge noted that I was not corrupt, that I was not laundering money in a case where everything revolves around that. In fact, I am indicted because I know other people who are indicted for corruption. To be linked to a criminal organization, you have to have knowledge of criminal activities and I swear to you that was totally unthinkable for me. Therein lies the paradox.”
And Michèle Hirsch and Morgan Bonneure, Marie Arena’s advisors, added: “This is a minimal, low-profile indictment. If our client had been heard two years ago, as we demanded, there would probably have been no indictment at all. Today, we will finally read the file and we will fight for a public trial which will lead to the pure and simple acquittal of Marie Arena.
gull“This is a minimal, low-profile indictment. If our client had been heard two years ago, as we demanded, there would probably have been no indictment at all. Today, we will finally read the file and we will fight for a public trial which will lead to the pure and simple acquittal of Marie Arena.
“No, I didn’t receive anything”
As a reminder, Marie Arena’s name has been in the Qatargate file from the start. Many questions arose as to the fact that she was cited extensively, without being heard, prosecuted or charged.
-However, in documents that The Free had been able to consult, the investigators had compiled excerpts of communication between Antonio Panzeri, alleged mastermind of the affair, and Marie Arena. In particular, we could read that “According to State Security, Marie Arena appears to have received a Rolex and a necklace from the Qatari authorities.
What about these elements, we ask? “No, I haven’t received a watch, or jewelry, or anything at all, ever, insists Marie Arena. If I am not charged with corruption, it is not out of politeness towards me, but because I did nothing. The information provided by State Security was therefore incorrect.”
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According to Marie Arena and her defense, the information reaching the investigating judge is partial: “State Security sorted and interpreted the information transmitted to the police. And the investigators sorted and selected the information transmitted to the investigating judge. In certain recordings, it was a question of “her”, and we considered, without proof, that “she” was Marie Arena.
gull“No, I have not received a watch, nor jewelry, nor anything at all, ever. If I am not charged with corruption, it is not out of politeness towards me, but because I did nothing The information provided by State Security was therefore incorrect.”
In what interest would the police authorities have acted in this way, one asks. “I don’t know, but I can tell you that since the beginning of this investigation, my person has been targeted by mistake and my name has become a trophy“, says Marie Arena. And adds: “I am angry with justice and I wonder about the leaks organized against me for two years.”
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“I will not flee justice”
Marie Arena was also cited for a case concerning her son. As a reminder, investigators found 280,000 euros in cash in his son’s apartment. Where is this file, we ask. “This does not concern me, and I therefore have no answer to provide. What I can tell you is that my fingerprints were taken during my police interview. The objective was undoubtedly to see if they appeared anywhere This is clearly not the case.
And to conclude: “Regarding my indictment, I am not going to flee justice, because I am confident and I have nothing to reproach myself for. I sincerely hope that a trial will be held. I do not want us to avoid a trial at all. “because of procedural problems, I want my innocence to be recognized and I will not hesitate to denounce the numerous dysfunctions of the investigation.”
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