Former French President accused of corruption

March 7, 2011 - 13:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former French President Jacques Chirac is due to go on trial on charges he misused public funds while he was mayor of Paris, before he was President.

Mr Chirac is accused of paying cronies between 1977 and 1995 for town hall jobs that did not exist. The 78-year-old has always denied the charges.

The trial brings together two separate cases, both involving allegations that people were employed on the Paris mayor's payroll while working instead for Mr Chirac's RPR party. One case, brought by a Paris magistrate, involves charges of embezzlement and breach of trust over the employment of 21 people. The other case for which the ex-president is charged with conflict of interest, involves seven jobs, and has been brought by an investigating judge in Nanterre.

Mr Chirac is to go on trial even though the main plaintiff has dropped out. The city of Paris withdrew its complaint last year after reaching a settlement with the former president and the ruling UMP party amounting to 2.2m euros. The prosecutor in charge of the original investigation believes there is insufficient evidence to bring a conviction, BBC News reported.

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