Former Secretary of State Thierry Mandon was sentenced on November 15, 2024 to one year in prison and a fine of 22,000 euros. This conviction follows accusations of embezzlement and misuse of corporate assets during his mandate at the head of the Cité du design of Saint-Étienne between 2018 and 2022.
According to the Saint-Étienne criminal court, Thierry Mandon produced false invoices in order to finance work in his Parisian home for an amount of 15,000 euros, as well as to obtain reimbursement for professional trips not taken. The facts, described as “misappropriation of public funds”, were reported in November 2022 by Marc Chassaubéné, president of the Cité du design and deputy for culture of Saint-Étienne. This affair highlighted a budget deficit of 1.4 million euros for the establishment’s 2022 financial year.
In addition to the prison sentence, Thierry Mandon received a permanent ban from running a public establishment and a five-year ineligibility sentence. The former manager, who admitted the facts, has since reimbursed all of the embezzled sums.
Created in 2009, the Cité du design of Saint-Étienne, located on the former site of the Manufacture d’armes, is a place dedicated to the promotion of design in France. It hosts exhibitions, workshops and conferences, while playing a key role in the cultural and economic influence of the region.
