Border Police officers (PAF) carry out a site inspection in Orient Bay in August 2019. The owner of the land and responsible for the works is RW, he plans to build a building that will house four dwellings. He is also the manager of a construction company.
During the check, the police noticed that seven workers were present. They are foreigners - Venezuelans to be precise - without a French residence permit and work permit.
RW explained to the police that "the workers asked him for work, and therefore to help them he hired them". He goes to fetch them in the morning in the Dutch part where they live and brings them back in the evening. He declares to pay them in cash in the range of 100 to 150 dollars per day. When questioned, the workers indicated that they were paid between 40 and 100 dollars per day.
The investigation also revealed breaches of the land use plan and non-compliance with the building permit issued in February 2018. The town planning services were notified. "They were also notified of the date of the hearing but they did not come," said the deputy prosecutor on the day of the hearing.
RW, prosecuted for carrying out concealed work and employing a foreigner without a permit, was also absent at his trial.
The prosecution requested a sentence of eight months in prison, a fine of 15 euros and an exclusion from his company's public contracts for five years.
After deliberation, the court imposed a sentence higher than the requisitions: a fine of 21 euros, eight months in prison and an exclusion from the public contracts of his business for five years. (soualigapost.com)
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