On Wednesday, March 15, more than 100 citizens came to listen to the Court of Appeal's decision on the LuxLeaks case. When the three defendants arrived to hear the verdict, it was therefore, as always, surrounded by their supports and under the encouragement of many citizens ! -- The verdict -- The court upholds a conviction for theft offenses, fraudulent maintenance in a database, and laundering of acquired data. Antoine is therefore sentenced to a 6-month suspended jail time and a 1,500 € fine. The other whistleblower, Raphaël Halet, is sentenced to a 1,000 € fine. The journalist Édouard Perrin is acquitted. -- A small victory... -- Despite the condemnation, we must welcome a certain moral and legal victory: Antoine is acquitted for the charges of breach of professional secrecy and disclosure of trade secrets. For the first time in Europe, a national judge recognizes the justificatory fact of whistleblowing in the disclosure of professional secrecy, in good faith and in the public interest. This judgment constitutes an undeniable legal step forward. -- ... but a blatant lack of courage -- By insisting on a conviction at all costs, the Court of Appeal clearly lacked courage. Antoine is acquitted as a whistleblower for having transmitted the documents to the journalist, but sentenced for the acquisition of the very same documents! This condemnation, symbolically heavy, confirms the need for European legislative progress on whistleblowers' protection. -- And now? -- Antoine will now read carefully the judgment of the Court of Appeal and take a decision of either appealing in cassation or, on the contrary, stopping judicial fight. Let’s wish him strength through this decision to be taken with a cool head and with the advice of his lawyers. The Support Committee and all the citizens accompanying him through his fight will be on Antoine’s side, whatever he decides! -- More information -- https://support-antoine.org/en/blog https://twitter.com/support_antoine https://www.facebook.com/Support-Antoine-388682861307176/