Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
IMF’s Lagarde to face court grilling in corruption case
© AFP
France’s Christine Lagarde, who took
over as head of the IMF in 2011 after Dominique Strauss-Khan stepped
down, was summoned to appear before a court investigating alleged
corruption during her time as a finance minister, her lawyer said on
Thursday.
By News Wires (text)
IMF chief Christine Lagarde is to be grilled by a special court
investigating suspected corruption dating from her time as French
finance minister, her lawyer said Thursday.
Lagarde, who took over at the International Monetary Fund in 2011
when the previous boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn stepped down over a sex
scandal, has been ordered to appear before the court at the end of May.
She will have to answer allegations that she acted improperly in the
handling of a financial dispute that resulted in around 400 million
euros ($520m) being paid by the state to disgraced tycoon Bernard Tapie.
Prosecutors working for the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) – a
body established to try cases of ministerial misconduct – suspect Tapie
received favourable treatment in return for supporting Lagarde’s then
boss, Nicolas Sarkozy, in the 2007 and 2012 presidential elections.
They have described Lagarde’s handling of the case as “questionable”
and suggested she was partly responsible for “numerous anomalies and
irregularities” which could lead to charges for complicity in fraud and
misappropriation of public funds.
Lagarde’s Paris home was raided by CJR officials last month but she
has not yet been charged with any crime. The IMF has stood by her and
her lawyer insisted she would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
“As has been expected for several months, the court wishes to
question Madame Lagarde,” her lawyer, Yves Repiquet, told AFP. “A
hearing will be held at the end of May.
“Mme Lagarde will finally have the opportunity to provide the court
with explanations and clarifications that will exonerate her of any
criminal responsibility.”
The investigation is centred on Lagarde’s 2007 decision to ask a
panel of judges to arbitrate in a dispute between Tapie and Credit
Lyonnais – the collapsed, partly state-owned bank – over his 1993 sale
of sports group Adidas.
The arbitration resulted in the payout to Tapie, a former politician
and businessman who went to prison for match-fixing during his time as
president of France’s biggest football club, Olympique Marseille.
IMF’s Lagarde to face court grilling in corruption case – FRANCE – FRANCE 24
Thanks to: http://2012indyinfo.com
© AFP
France’s Christine Lagarde, who took
over as head of the IMF in 2011 after Dominique Strauss-Khan stepped
down, was summoned to appear before a court investigating alleged
corruption during her time as a finance minister, her lawyer said on
Thursday.
By News Wires (text)
IMF chief Christine Lagarde is to be grilled by a special court
investigating suspected corruption dating from her time as French
finance minister, her lawyer said Thursday.
Lagarde, who took over at the International Monetary Fund in 2011
when the previous boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn stepped down over a sex
scandal, has been ordered to appear before the court at the end of May.
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CHRISTINE LAGARDE IN PROFILE
handling of a financial dispute that resulted in around 400 million
euros ($520m) being paid by the state to disgraced tycoon Bernard Tapie.
Prosecutors working for the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) – a
body established to try cases of ministerial misconduct – suspect Tapie
received favourable treatment in return for supporting Lagarde’s then
boss, Nicolas Sarkozy, in the 2007 and 2012 presidential elections.
They have described Lagarde’s handling of the case as “questionable”
and suggested she was partly responsible for “numerous anomalies and
irregularities” which could lead to charges for complicity in fraud and
misappropriation of public funds.
Lagarde’s Paris home was raided by CJR officials last month but she
has not yet been charged with any crime. The IMF has stood by her and
her lawyer insisted she would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
“As has been expected for several months, the court wishes to
question Madame Lagarde,” her lawyer, Yves Repiquet, told AFP. “A
hearing will be held at the end of May.
“Mme Lagarde will finally have the opportunity to provide the court
with explanations and clarifications that will exonerate her of any
criminal responsibility.”
The investigation is centred on Lagarde’s 2007 decision to ask a
panel of judges to arbitrate in a dispute between Tapie and Credit
Lyonnais – the collapsed, partly state-owned bank – over his 1993 sale
of sports group Adidas.
The arbitration resulted in the payout to Tapie, a former politician
and businessman who went to prison for match-fixing during his time as
president of France’s biggest football club, Olympique Marseille.
IMF’s Lagarde to face court grilling in corruption case – FRANCE – FRANCE 24
Thanks to: http://2012indyinfo.com
