He claims not to have any bank account abroad and to ensure with his chartered accountants “that no declarative error could have been made” concerning his companies, while one of them is suspected of having concealed 200,000 euros.
The deputy denies but remains cautious. In a press release, the rebellious Carlos Martens Bilongo assures, to his knowledge that “all the sums paid into my company accounts have been declared in good and due form”.
According to information from BFMTV, the public prosecutor’s office in Pontoise (Val-d’Oise) has opened a preliminary investigation against him for tax evasion, money laundering of tax evasion, misuse of corporate assets and breach of reporting obligations to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP).
“The tax returns of my companies are public,” he says.
No overseas accounts
Carlos Martens Bilongo claims to have “never had a tax audit either personally or for my companies”, while Tracfin, Bercy’s anti-money laundering unit, has identified bank flows that seem irregular and unrelated to its declarations to taxes and the HATVP.
The open investigation is also interested in an undeclared bank account abroad. “The only thing that could have a link with Eastern Europe is the use (of an application) for online payments. The balance of this account is 106 euros”, defends the deputy.
“I have never opened a bank account abroad on a personal basis,” he adds.
“I will be perfectly transparent”
According to the first elements, the investigators discovered several transfers and cash receipts, while he declares that he is not paid by his companies. In addition, one of his last would have concealed 200,000 euros from the authorities.
Carlos Martens Bilongo claims to “verify” the charges with his accountant and “ensure that no declarative error could have been made”. However, he adds that he was surprised by the existence of this survey.
“I will be perfectly transparent on all of these elements both with the institutions and with public opinion,” he insists.
Contacted by BFMTV, the Pontoise public prosecutor’s office indicated that it did not want to comment “at this stage” on this case.
