Social security fraud in Martinique: two pharmacists convicted, their pharmacies closed and put up for sale
Two pharmacists from Fort-de-France and François have been convicted of aggravated fraud. Their pharmacies, now closed, will be sold through judicial liquidation.
Two Martinique pharmacies seized following conviction of their managers
Two pharmacists operating in Martinique — one in Fort-de-France, the other in François — have been convicted by the criminal court for aggravated fraud, misappropriation of company assets, and, in one case, organised drug trafficking, according to la1ere.franceinfo.fr. The two establishments are now closed and will be transferred as part of judicial liquidation proceedings.
The offences took place over a six-year period. The two practitioners overcharged the social security system for expensive medicines that they had not actually dispensed. According to a statement from the authorities, the total loss inflicted on the social security system exceeds €4.2 million, without the amounts specific to each of the two establishments being clarified. Valuable objects, bank accounts and real estate have also been seized.
One of the pharmacists was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment, of which 8 months under electronic monitoring, as well as to pay €100,000. Both managers are prohibited from practising their profession for five years.
The president of the Order of Pharmacists clarified the consequences for the pharmacies: "Their business has also been seized by the court. The pharmacies must be managed by a judicial administrator who will choose, with our assistance, a managing pharmacist to replace these two titleholders."
The sale of the two pharmacies is mandatory within a strict legal timeframe. "A pharmacy that has no titleholder for a year sees its licence lapse. That is to say it becomes void. So we are obliged to sell these two pharmacies. They will be sold through judicial liquidation," he added.
The ordinary disciplinary procedure is still to come. "The sanction they have received now — the prohibition for five years among other things and the confiscation of assets — that is from the criminal court. Now we have been notified of these sanctions and the two pharmacists will have to appear before the disciplinary chamber," the president of the Order stated.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)