SAINT-PIERRE. While he was due to appear in the criminal court of Saint-Pierre in less than a week, the baron of the night escaped a media trial.
It was in December 2015 that the affair erupted, when tax agents coming directly from mainland France conducted tax investigations at Denis Vergoz’s home. No time to hide compromising documents at his company headquarters in Ravine-des-Cabris and at his home, which are therefore confiscated. The investigation took its course and the boss of a dozen nightclubs on the island was the first to be presented as part of a correctional trial, or a public hearing. A trial is expected on April 21, so it will not take place publicly.
According to information revealed by our colleagues at Zinfos974, the Night King eventually asked to be judged more discreetly, as part of an appearance on prior admission and thus in a more discreet configuration.“The CRPC is a legally provided option in a recent text, even on appeal. If the prosecution has carried out this procedure, it is because there are good reasons, Mr Vergoz did not discuss his guilt and therefore there was no need to bring the court together with debates on the grounds.”, says one of his advisers, Master Djalil Gangate. The suspicions relate to double-entry bookkeeping, which could indicate that the boss has not declared all his income to the tax authorities. In total, the fraud would represent an amount of almost two million euros. This Friday morning, he was therefore given a 12-month suspended prison sentence, a fine of 30,000 euros, half of which was conditional, and confiscation of land. Thus, after paying part of his debt to the tax authorities, he was able to negotiate this procedure of appearance on prior admission of debt, which is more discreet.
Ban on running a business, suspended
Denis Vergoz, along with his ex-wife and his financial adviser, was charged with alleged acts of concealment, tax evasion, failure to write in an accounting document, money laundering, misuse of Sarl’s property or credit by an administrator for personal purposes concerning the establishment “Le Duplex”. Facts dating back to 2013. Since his troubles with the tax authorities, the Night King has been in financial difficulties. He has since requested that his holding company and several of his companies be placed under receivership, in anticipation of potential financial difficulties and to further the lack of cash to substantiate his claim in the commercial court.
In 2018, a repayment plan of 7 million euros was validated. The Beach Club, the Duplex, the Apollo Night were placed under receivership and the Run Night and the Labourdonnais in indemnification proceedings, such as the holding company VZ Invest. The group as a whole generated nearly 11 million euros in turnover, with more than 7 million euros in liabilities. The repayment was arranged over a period of 6 to 10 years. The Appolo Night will close in October 2018, after 20 years of existence.
Lack of luck for Denis Vergoz, his pharaonic project, “La Villa du Général” on the coast of Saint-Denis never saw the light of day and the covid crisis began to undermine his projects even more. The business manager who risked a ban on management enjoys a postponement on this point, except in the case of recidivism. The part on the compensation of creditors will take place later, during a civil hearing.
LAURENCE GILIBERT
