Summary
In the quaint town of Sillé-le-Guillaume, nestled in the heart of Sarthe, a postman found himself in a battle of wits against the gavel of justice. With 36 years of dedicated service behind him, this letter carrier had always taken pride in delivering not just parcels, but smiles. However, on a fateful day in March 2024, a routine alcohol breath test turned the tables on him, revealing an alarming 0.22 mg of alcohol per liter of breath—an echo of the revelry that had transpired after his last delivery. The incident, resembling a scene from a cautionary tale, led the postman’s employer, La Poste, to administer a harsh two-year suspension following a disciplinary hearing. The judge of the Nantes administrative tribunal weighed the scales of justice with precision while addressing the unthinkable: a postman, clad in his postal uniform yet entangled in the swirling mist of intoxication, had taken unauthorized breaks at a local bar, all while behind the wheel of a La Poste vehicle. The judge’s references to his shirt bearing the iconic yellow logo painted a stark contrast to the reverberating clinks of glasses and laughter echoing in the bar’s corners. As the gavel struck, the postman lamented the deep financial repercussions this decision would unveil. With the shadow of lost wages looming over him and the chance to participate in a senior part-time program slipping away like sand through fingers, he sought the court’s intervention. “No harm was done to the image of La Poste!” he exclaimed, fervently defending his reputation and disputing the competence of the individual who conducted the breath test. Yet, the judge noted that no matter how urgently the postman urged the court to suspend his sentence, the chorus of past infractions played louder. The history of his behavior as a driver under the influence resonated starkly within the courtroom, underscoring the gravity of such reckless actions. Despite the blow of rejection, the postman was not entirely forsaken—while suspended, he could still seek paid work elsewhere. And as the wheels of justice continued to turn, the tribunal promised to reexamine the case in the coming years, where a potential reversal might reopen the door for reparations, a chance for redemption that lingered like an unmailed letter waiting to be sent. As autumn settled in, the ramifications of one evening’s choices cast a long shadow over his life, while La Poste awaited its letter carrier’s return—potentially wiser, hopefully sobered, but forever changed by the specter of consequence.
Original Source: france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr
