{"id":23561,"date":"2020-03-12T13:15:55","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T12:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/?p=23561"},"modified":"2020-03-12T12:03:57","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T11:03:57","slug":"le-drian-case-prince-albert-ii-next-impersonation-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2020\/03\/le-drian-case-prince-albert-ii-next-impersonation-target\/","title":{"rendered":"Le Drian Case: Prince Albert II next impersonation target"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two men who impersonated a French Minister sometimes using silicone masks have been jailed in Paris, after they duped several people out of more than \u20ac55m (\u00a348m). They were charged over the impersonation of Jean-Yves Le Drian and the planned impersonation of Prince Albert II of Monaco.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The court found Franco-Israeli citizens Gilbert Chikli, 54, and Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35, guilty and sentenced them to prison sentences and paying hefty fines. Chikli faced the heaviest sentence of 11 years and a \u20ac2m fine, and Lasarevitsch 7 years and \u20ac1m.<\/p>\n

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The scheme, which took place from 2015 to 2016, involved fraudsters posing as Jean-Yves Le Drian, the then-Minister of Defence, to ask politicians and wealthy executives for financial aid for “secret operations carried out by the French state”.<\/p>\n

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Chikli and Lasarevitsch were considered the masterminds of the operations, whereas five other defendants faced lesser charges. One was released on Wednesday and four others received sentences ranging from suspended 15-month terms to five years.<\/p>\n

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As the sentence was handed down, Chikli shouted, “it’s a scandal. You should be ashamed.”<\/p>\n