MARIGOT:--- The Tribunal d' Instance in Marigot rendered its verdict on Thursday when they pronounced the decision of the court against Jean Charles Cohen. Cohen was charged with fraud which he committed against at least two persons. Cohen was accused of swindling an amount of Euros 196,000.00 from Thierry Luzet and $90,000.00 from Francoise Lesueur, both coming from their official savings. The court was told that Luzet lone Cohen the monies sometime in 2010 to 2011 with an agreement that Cohen would give him a 7% interest rate since he had owned several Change Points in St. Martin and other French Caribbean Islands. Cohen also promised Lesueur 12% interest rate per year (1% per month). However, both victims got for some time the interests they agreed upon with Cohen, but neither of them could get back their monies when time of full reimbursement came, and Cohen gave them many different empty promises to cover his fraud.
The court ruled that Cohen must spend the next five years in prison, and issued an immediate arrest warrant. He was sentenced in abstentia since he and his lawyer did not show up to court on Thursday for the court's decision. Cohen has to also serve two and half months additional to the five years for breaking the law regarding the mandatory DNA test he refused to comply with during the Gendarms investigation.
The court also ruled that Cohen must repay the two victims the monies he borrowed, additional to that he has to pay them Euros 3,000.00 for moral prejudice while the court issued a warrant for the immediate arrest of Cohen even if he appeals the verdict rendered on Thursday. The civil parties were represented by Attorney at Law Stephen Montravers while Cohen was represented by Attorney at Law Jabot.
It should be noted that Jean Charles Cohen did not show up to court for the trail in and he was not in court on Thursday morning, however, he was fully present in court during the AOT trial in September 2013 as he showed his support to the elected members of the Collectivity of St. Martin.
