A French mayor has been handed a significant prison sentence for orchestrating a blackmail scheme using a secretly recorded sex tape against a political opponent.
Court Delivers Guilty Verdict and Sentence
A court in Lyon found Gael Perdriau, the 53-year-old mayor of Saint-Etienne, guilty on multiple charges this Monday. The judge sentenced him to four years of immediate imprisonment, with an additional suspended term. He also received a five-year ban from holding any public office, effective immediately.
The charges against Perdriau included blackmail, criminal conspiracy, and the diversion of public funds. Presiding Judge Brigitte Vernay declared the mayor "entirely guilty" of the crimes brought before the court.
The Shocking Details of the Blackmail Plot
Prosecutors detailed a scheme dating back to early 2015. Perdriau was accused of commissioning a secret video recording of his then-deputy, Gilles Artigues, in a hotel room with a male sex worker. The purpose was to ensure Artigues's political loyalty.
During the trial, prosecutor Audrey Quey described Perdriau as the "decision-maker" who held ultimate power, stating, "He was the one with his finger on the nuclear button." The threat to release the tape was used to prevent Artigues from breaking ranks.
The plot unraveled when Artigues, in 2017, secretly recorded a conversation with the mayor. In that recording, Perdriau can be heard referencing a "USB stick" containing compromising images and threatening to make them public.
Impact on the Victim and Broader Fallout
Gilles Artigues, a Roman Catholic who had publicly opposed gay marriage, testified to the severe personal toll of the blackmail. He told the court it left him "paralysed" during city meetings, feeling like a "puppet" who was forced to smile.
He also revealed he suffered from suicidal thoughts as a result of the pressure. Following the verdict, a relieved Artigues, surrounded by family, said, "Today, I think I will be able to rebuild my life."
Three co-defendants, including the mayor's former chief of staff and another deputy, also received prison sentences for their roles in setting up the trap. Despite the court's ruling, Perdriau maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal the decision.
