Martinique Directorate for continuing the trial of Maître Patrice Tacita. Pointois’ lawyer faces charges of tax and welfare fraud. This Foyalais meeting was an opportunity for the defense to request a reduction in the sanction previously considered by the court. Maître Philippe Edmond-Mariette’s argument focused on a case involving a prefect who continued to practice after a similar case.
Guadeloupe the 1st • Published September 2, 2022 at 2:04 p.m., updated September 2, 2022 at 2:12 p.m.
In 2018, Patrice Tacita was the subject of an audit by the tax authorities. Due to the procedure, the control extends over the last three years from 2015 to 2017. Controls, which initially entail considerable improvements, more than 500,000 euros and the filing of a complaint of tax evasion with the Pointe-à-Pitre public prosecutor’s office.
The investigations will this time cover the period from 2013 to 2019 and will uncover strange practices to say the least. Patrice Tacita is accused of fraudulently evading the assessment and payment of income tax, VAT, corporation tax, housing tax and property tax for seven years.
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The investigation will also update a welfare fraud committed between November 12, 2018 and December 31, 2019. Patrice Tacita is accused of “wrongly withholding in his possession the prepaid social security contributions of his employees”.
As a reminder, Maître Patrice Tacita plays a major role in this process. The lawyer could be suspended by the Bar Association.
In fact, the Fort-de-France prosecutor sought an 18-month suspended sentence, a 5-year ban from practicing his profession, confiscation of his home and payment of duties and penalties to the treasury.
ALSO READ: Tax and benefit fraud: Me Patrice Tacita trial stayed until June 2022