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4 weeks ago
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Source: AFP
Prosecutors successful eastbound France connected Wednesday requested a winemaker accused of producing and selling fake champagne successful an elaborate scam beryllium sentenced to 4 years successful prison, with 3 years of the word suspended.
Didier Chopin, 56, was besides requested to wage a good of 100,000 euros connected charges of fraud and theft of a protected marque sanction astatine the trial, which started connected Tuesday.
The winemaker from the Aisne portion produced and sold hundreds of thousands of fake champagne bottles for a year, betwixt 2022 and 2023. He produced the champagne with wines from Spain and confederate France, to which helium added aromas and carbonised state to marque them sparkling.
The full worth of the fraud was estimated astatine respective millions of euros.
The prosecution astatine the Reims transgression tribunal besides requested that the winemaker's woman incur a suspended situation condemnation of 2 years and a good of 100,000 euros connected the aforesaid charges of fraud and theft of a protected marque name.
The prosecution denounced "a cynical and premeditated logic of profit," and requested that the mates beryllium definitively banned from moving a business and from exercising immoderate concern oregon commercialized professions successful the champagne sector.
The confiscation of each seized possessions and the demolition of each seized bottles was besides requested.
The couple's holding company, SAS Chopin, was requested to wage a 300,000 euro good connected charges of embezzlement and misuse of institution assets.
The tribunal is expected to denote its verdict connected September 2.
"This is simply a bittersweet conclusion. I made a mistake, I americium ruined and I person thing other to add," Chopin told reporters.
The winemaker's lawyer, Francis Fossier, had argued for a afloat suspended situation sentence. His lawsuit had already spent "seven months" successful situation successful Morocco "in horrible conditions," said Fossier.
After the champagne fraud was revealed by erstwhile employees successful 2023, Chopin had fled to Morocco and launched a caller rootlike farming concern there. He was past arrested, convicted and sentenced to situation connected accusations linked to uncovered cheques.
The portion of the proceedings relating to customs violations -- concerning the export of the fake champagne extracurricular of France -- has been adjourned to February 3, 2026.
The winemaker besides faces different ineligible process aft 5 erstwhile employees accused him of intersexual assault.
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Source: AFP
