ADR deputy Roy Reding (centre) will remain an MP for the ADR, despite his suspended prison sentence. Library photo: Maison Moderne

ADR deputy Roy Reding (centre) will remain an MP for the ADR, despite his suspended prison sentence. Library photo: Maison Moderne

ADR deputy Roy Reding will remain a representative of his party in the Chamber of Deputies, his party’s executive committee has decided.

was sentenced on Thursday 24 November by the Luxembourg criminal court to a one-year suspended prison sentence and a €50,000 fine after being convicted of real estate fraud. He sold a flat that didn’t meet Luxembourg real estate requirements for over €1.6m, according to the prosecutor’s case.

His sentence should not have an impact on his position within the party, the ADR’s committee decided. His actions and consequent sentence are not related in any way to the party, said ADR president Fred Keup in an interview with 100,7 public radio on 30 November. 

The basement--part of a family house split into several apartments--had been converted into a studio at Reding’s request, but without the necessary construction permit. Among other criteria, the studio flat did not meet the minimum conditions in terms of height.

“I never sold a flat that was contrary to Luxembourgish real estate requirements,” Reding told Delano in a statement on Wednesday. “The studio in question was sold as what it was--two lots registered in the Cadastre (land registry) as ‘caves’ (cellars).

“Furthermore, I did not sell the house to ‘avoid an official demand’. The decision to sell the entire property was based solely on investment considerations. The sale had absolutely nothing to do with any ‘official demand’.”

To avoid an official demand in 2016 to bring the studio back to its former state as a basement, the member of parliament sold the property. The real estate company in charge of the sale says it had not been informed of the issue. 

“This could not be further from the truth,” Reding stated.

“In my first email to the real estate company in charge of the sale, I informed them that the basement could no longer be used as a studio, but only as a ‘cave’.

“Not only did I inform the company, but the real estate agent acknowledged the information and confirmed at court that he had informed the buyer.

“All the agent said is that he never saw the judgement that decided that the basement could not be used as a studio. This is true,” Reding said.

Reding on the weekend of 27 November also resigned from his position at the Luxembourg City municipal council, citing difficulties in balancing his many tasks. 

Updated with statement from Roy Reding