The Franco-Gabonese couple wanted to get married in Béziers, the courts opposed it and condemned them

The couple decided to appeal the judges' decision. J.-P A. – Midi Libre

The affair made the front pages of Gabonese newspapers last April. A Gabonese woman wanted to marry a Béziers man 42 years her senior. The courts have just convicted them both of attempting a sham marriage in order to obtain papers. They decided to appeal the judgment.

Last April, the announcement of the marriage of a Franco-Gabonese couple made the headlines in the Gabonese newspapers.: "France : in Béziers, a 32-year-old woman and her 74-year-old partner prosecuted for attempted sham marriage". Both were prosecuted before the Béziers court for acts of marriage contracted to obtain a residence permit, protection against removal or the acquisition of French nationality and finally for attempting to commit a sham marriage.

This Monday, June 17, the Béziers court delivered its judgment. The couple was convicted. Him, 50 day fines of 10 € and she receives a two-month suspended prison sentence with the additional penalty of a ban on residence in France for a period of five years. The representative of the prosecution had requested a sentence of 90 day fines of 10 € for the future groom and three months suspended prison sentence for his partner, as well as a ban on staying in France for five years.

"We met in 2018"

Me Séraphine Gonzalez, the lawyer for the defendant couple, announced her desire to appeal this court decision. The couple received Midi Libre in April and explained: “We met in 2018 via Facebook”, they both said. “Then we met physically 5 years later on a trip to Spain. We liked each other right away.” In front of the judges, the defendant insisted, “I was registered on a website because I was looking for love. I found it."

He replies straight away: "I came across the site by chance. I had been looking for a woman since my wife died and I spotted her through the photos. I was looking for an African woman, they are more serious than European women."

The defense lawyer pleaded for the couple to be acquitted, due to lack of evidence put forward by the courts

"I ask you to analyze this file objectively, insists Me Séraphine Gonzalez. They are being prosecuted for attempting a sham marriage, but there are no objective elements that all the elements put forward are proofs. The age gap is raised in this matter, but the legislation says nothing on this point. We are trying to say that they cannot get married because she is not in an irregular situation. This does not prohibit marriage. We put forward the fact that they did not respond in the same way to the town hall's questions. Two discordant questions out of 48. It's the suspicion of a sham marriage? No, she's 33 years old and has no freedom. spend. She did not understand the nuance between brother and cousin, this is one of the answers that does not correspond. He is a widower and has freedom. to remarry. I ask you to relax them because there is evidence proving that they live together."

The defendant is clumsy

In court, the defendant is awkward when he is asked the question about the future of his partner's granddaughter. "I want the woman, not the child. If there is a wedding in France, I will not go to Gabon." And the young woman continued: "For the moment, as long as I don’not have the means to have my daughter live with me, she will not come. My mother looks after her."

His conviction

The fact remains that the representative of the public prosecutor's office showed some concern about the future of the young woman's daughter. "A kid’s place is with her mother. I'm convinced of it, no matter how nice your parents are. One thing worries me. Did your companion tell you about his conviction for sexual assault on a minor which earned him three years in prison." The young woman says yes, but speaks of an attempt and seems very surprised to understand that there was not just one attempt. The man quickly defends himself by asserting that he wants to turn a page on the past. That there is no question of the little one coming to France and that nothing will happen. "I only seek one thing, to live my life to the end."

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