Gaby Clavier’s trial resumed this Thursday, May 5 at the Pointe-à-Pitre court. The UGTG trade unionist is being prosecuted on charges of repeated death threats, refusal to submit to a biological sample. This morning, the indictment of the prosecutor took place.
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After December 7, February 1 and March 15, this May 5 marks the 4th day of hearing in Gaby Clavier’s trial. The secretary general of UTS-UGTG is prosecuted for repeated death threats against the director of the university hospital center at the time, Gérard Cotellon. Facts committed on July 29, 2021.
As usual, many activists and supporters gathered around the court, in support of the trade unionist.
Activists and supporters of Gaby Clavier gathered in front of the Palace of Justice in Pointe-à-Pitre, May 5, 2022
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A few minutes before the start of the hearing, it was a serene Gaby Clavier who spoke, saying (in Creole) that there was no « offensive and committed trade unionism without being, at one point in its career, worried by justice ». Before adding that « sometimes you have to interfere with the law to enforce it and advance the law« .
Gaby Clavier and 2 of her lawyers, at the Pointe-à-Pitre court, May 5, 2022
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The hearing started shortly before 9:30 a.m. Speaking during the morning, the two lawyers of Gérard Cotellon, Mare Jocelyn Troupé and Yannick Louis-Hodebar.
Then the Attorney General, Patrick Desjardins, before the defense lawyers: Mr.are Sarah Aristide, Evita Chevry, Gabriel Danchet, Tacite father, Ernest Daninthe, Joselaine Gelabale, Harry Nirelep and Socrate-Pierre Tacita.
This time, Gérard Cotellon, despite his desire to be present, follows the hearing remotely, from the island of Reunion where he was appointed director of the Regional Health Agency, last April.
According to his lawyers, the former director « knew that being at the head of the CHUG would have been difficult but would not necessarily have imagined such a legal career« .
Strategically, the lawyers of the secretary general of the UTS UGTG disregard the accusation against their client to put the hospital and the health system in Guadeloupe on trial.
Gérard Cotellon’s lawyers sought, during the pleadings, to refocus the debate on the accusation of death threats. « The words have a meaning whether they are pronounced in Creole or not“, hammered Me Hodebar.
A line supported by Me Troupé, stating that the words spoken by Gaby Clavier did not fall under « poetry of the language of ours but were indeed reprehensible remarks in reference to the penal code« .
Maître Jocelyn Troupé, lawyer for Gérard Cotellon
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For them, we must not forget that Gérard Cotellon is a victim.
The public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre, Patrick Desjardins requested:
- 6 months’ imprisonment with a full reprieve in view of Gaby Clavier’s criminal record and justified by the seriousness of the facts and the presumed lack of questioning on the part of the trade unionist,
- 2,000 euros for the offense of refusing to submit to biological samples
- and a ban on appearing for 5 years within the grounds of the CHU or even its surroundings.
A few minutes before, Me Hodedar, lawyer for Gérard Cotellon claimed 4,000 euros in damages for the moral damage suffered.
At the end of the morning, it will be the turn of the Defense to make its presentation.