A French court found former President Jacques Chirac guilty in a historic verdict of embezzling public funds to illegally finance the conservative party he long led, and handed him a suspended prison sentence.
Mr Chirac, a savvy world diplomat and icon of France's political establishment for decades, is the first former French head of state to face prosecution since the World War II era.
But the 79-year-old former leader did not take part in the trial, after doctors determined that he suffers severe memory lapses.
The court said today it had found Mr Chirac guilty in two related cases involving fake jobs created at the RPR party, which he led during his 1977-1995 tenure as Paris mayor.
He was convicted of embezzling public funds, abuse of trust, and illegal conflict of interest. Mr Chirac repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
He was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, which gives Mr Chirac a criminal record but means he does not have to go behind bars.
The court said it took into account his age, health and status as a former head of state when determining the sentence.
Mr Chirac is the first former French head of state to be convicted since Philippe Petain, found guilty in 1945 of collaborating with the Nazis.
He becomes the first former French head of state to be convicted since Marshal Philippe Petain, the leader of the World War II Vichy regime, who was found guilty in 1945 of collaborating with the Nazis.
No comments:
Post a Comment