An experienced magistrate linking her fate with the lower ranks of the Corsican mafia is not a common occurrence. An examination of her personality may help the justice system understand why Hélène Gerhards, who served on the island for a long time, broke the rules. Currently, she has been charged by two investigating judges in Nice for eleven offenses, including embezzlement of public funds and association with a criminal organization. She has been placed in detention, which is a rare occurrence. The preliminary investigation, transferred to the court in Nice, suggests that she refused to subject her personal life to the precautionary rules associated with her profession.
When Ms. Gerhards took on the role of investigating judge in Ajaccio in 2010, she quickly formed a close relationship with the Sollacaro clan, led by former bar owner Antoine Sollacaro, a close confidant of nationalist leader Alain Orsoni, whose son is a prominent figure in Corsican crime. Following the assassination of Mr. Sollacaro in late 2012, she visited the crime scene privately, surprising her colleagues in the prosecution office, who she explained the visit by stating he was “a very close friend.” She continued to associate with Antoine Sollacaro’s daughter, also a lawyer, until she relocated to Toulouse in 2016 as deputy prosecutor, while retaining a house in the bay of Ajaccio. In 2021, she joined the appellate court in Agen. During this period, she also became close to another clan, that of Johann Carta, known in both the Ajaccio region and the island’s legal cases, a relationship that could lead to her downfall.
Described by the justice system as the “steward” of the affairs of Petit Bar, the dominant criminal group in Corsica, Mr. Carta is associated with members of this gang accused of playing a role in the elimination of former bar owner Sollacaro, who are set to stand trial for these crimes. Investigators uncovered ties between Ms. Gerhards and Mr. Carta while monitoring the latter in a money laundering investigation targeting Petit Bar. In a phone call inside a vehicle, Mr. Carta was heard threatening workers who had carried out renovations in the magistrate’s villa. Beside him, Ms. Gerhards listed the flaws in the work. She encountered problems with companies responsible for the roof, terrace, and spa renovations that doubled the property’s value. She is charged with money laundering, organized concealed work, and influence peddling. Additionally, she failed to report the garage converted into an Airbnb rental and lied about her address and marital status.
The question of a possible quid pro quo arises in light of the nature of Ms. Gerhards’ relationship with the Corsican underworld figures. The inquiry into her behavior and potential motivations for these actions continues to unfold. As a magistrate entrusted with upholding the law, her entanglement with individuals involved in criminal activities raises serious concerns about the integrity of the legal system. The unexpected turn of events involving a respected judicial figure aligning herself with individuals linked to organized crime underscores the complex and often murky intersections of power, influence, and personal choices. The legal proceedings against Ms. Gerhards will shed light on the extent of her involvement and the implications for her career and reputation.
