Source:
The ObserverChirac to be interviewed over charges of corruptionJason Burke
Sunday June 24, 2007
The ObserverJacques Chirac, the former president of France, will be
interviewed on corruption charges in the coming weeks,
it was revealed yesterday. The former premier has been
dogged by allegations of malpractice during his time as
Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995, particularly the charge
that he gave fictitious jobs to party workers. At least
four different investigating magistrates want to talk to
Chirac, 74, who lost his immunity from prosecution when
he left the Elysée Palace and theoretically risks prison.
Chirac, however, has refused to appear as a witness in a
separate inquiry into the so-called 'Clearstream' affair, a
corruption scandal which gripped France 18 months ago.
Investigators want to know if Chirac ordered a secret
intelligence inquiry into claims that his bitter rival and
successor Nicolas Sarkozy had received illicit funds into
a hidden bank account. The claims, it has now been
established, were baseless.
Link:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2110280,00.html