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Home , Nicolas Sarkozy

Friday 15 International Friday, March 5, 2021 French court acquits ex-PM Balladur in corruption trial Verdict comes a day after ex-president Sarkozy was convicted for corruption

PARIS: A French court yesterday acquitted former prime min- suspected of carrying out the assault. ister Edouard Balladur on corruption charges after he was ac- But the focus shifted and French investigators began to con- cused of using kickbacks from an arms deal but handed a sider whether the bombing had been carried out as revenge for suspended jail term to his former defense minister. The verdict a halt in commission payments for the arms deals. Balladur lost by the Law Court of the Republic (CJR), which sits to try serv- his 1995 presidential bid to rival Chirac who allegedly cut off the ing and former ministers for alleged violations committed in of- payments negotiated by the previous government. fice, came just days after ex-president was Leotard was accused of having created an “opaque network” convicted for corruption. Balladur, 91, had been accused of fun- of intermediaries who took commissions on contracts signed with neling illicit commissions from arms deals to his unsuccessful Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and then paid back some of the money presidential campaign in 1995. with illicit cash transfers. His former defense minister Francois Leotard, 78, was how- Prosecutors alleged that the commissions totalled 550 million ever convicted of complicity in the misuse of assets and handed francs, or 117 million euros in today’s money, some of which was a suspended two-year prison term and a fine of 100,000 euros funnelled back to Balladur’s campaign. At the center of the case ($120,000). was a deposit of 10.25 million francs in cash made into Balladur’s Neither was present in court for the verdict. Balladur and campaign account three days after his electoral defeat in 1995. Leotard, both right-wingers, were charged in 2017 with “com- Balladur claimed the money came from donations from sup- plicity in the misuse of corporate assets” over the sale of sub- porters and merchandise sales, but prosecutors linked the money marines to Pakistan and frigates to Saudi Arabia between 1993 to cash withdrawals in Switzerland made by a Lebanese-French This file combo photo shows former French Prime Minister and President of the and 1995. The verdicts came hot on the heels of a corruption intermediary who took commissions on the arms deals. Ziad Foreign Affairs Commission at the National Assembly Edouard Balladur (left) and conviction for former president Sarkozy on Monday which Takieddine, long active in French right-wing circles, fled to former French Defense minister Francois Leotard. —AFP stunned and has led to a debate about the extent of po- Lebanon last June after a court sentenced him and another litical corruption. middleman, Abdul Rahman El-Assir, to five years in prison over That judgemnt meant that both of the last heads of states from their role in the “Karachi” kickbacks. have formed a “corruption pact” with his lawyer Thierry Her- France’s right-wing party now called (LR) — zog to convince a judge to obtain and share information about and Sarkozy — have criminal convictions. Combative Sarkozy yet another inquiry into his campaign financing. Sarkozy, who Sarkozy has vowed to appeal and clear his name. Three others were also convicted but have announced appeals. has been dogged with investigations since leaving office in “I have a completely free conscience,” Balladur told the court dur- 2007, denies the charges and has vowed to clear his name with Swiss cash ing his interrogation. Takieddine has also made — and retracted an appeal. The allegations against Balladur and Leotard came to light — claims that he delivered suitcases stuffed with cash from Libyan In two interviews Wednesday, he lambasted the verdict and during an investigation into a 2002 bombing in Karachi, Pakistan, dictator to Sarkozy’s chief of staff to help with said he was mulling filing a complaint with Europe’s top rights that targeted a bus transporting French engineers. Fifteen people the ex-president’s 2007 presidential campaign. Those claims are court. “I never betrayed the trust of the ,” France’s were killed in the attack, including 11 engineers working on the the subject of a separate investigation into Sarkozy. president from 2007 to 2012 told TF1 channel in a primetime in- submarine contract, with the Al-Qaeda terror network initially On Monday, the 66-year-old ex-president was found to terview on Wednesday evening. —AFP

The hospital, known as Barts, Prince Philip has dates back to the 12th century and has a renowned cardiac unit. ‘successful’ Philip had a stent fitted in Greece assesses damage 2011 after suffering a blocked coronary artery, undergoing heart procedure treatment at the specialist from 6.3 magnitude quake Royal Papworth Hospital in ATHENS: Engineers in central Greece yesterday were assessing LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II’s 99-year-old husband Prince Cambridge. His daughter-in- Philip has undergone a successful heart procedure, Bucking- the damage from a strong 6.3 magnitude quake that injured at law Camilla, Duchess of Corn- least 11 people, damaged scores of buildings and spread panic. ham Palace said yesterday after he was transferred to a cardiac wall, said Wednesday that In this file photo, Britain’s Prince The recovery work began as scores of people from the vil- unit in London. Philip was “slightly improving,” Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Queen lages of Damasi and Mesochori, some 240 kilometers (149 miles) Royal officials said the Duke of Edinburgh, as he is formally but “hurts at moments.” Elizabeth II’s 99-year-old husband north of Athens, spent the night away from their homes after known, “underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing “We keep our fingers Prince Philip has undergone a suc- Wednesday’s quake. Civil protection officials said tents had heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital” on Wednesday. crossed,” she added. Camilla’s cessful heart procedure, Bucking- been set up at a local stadium for temporary accommodation, “His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest husband-Philip’s eldest son ham Palace said yesterday. —AFP in addition to five hotels in the nearby town of Trikala and the and recuperation for a number of days,” they added. Philip has and heir to the throne, Prince main city of Larissa. now spent more than two weeks in hospital, his longest every Charles-visited him in hospital last month. Philip’s youngest son Repeated aftershocks have struck the area, including a stay, raising fears for his health because of his advanced age. Prince Edward and grandson Prince William have both com- strong 5.2 magnitude tremor on Wednesday evening. Crews in- He will turn 100 on June 10. The prince was first admitted mented on his state of health. Edward said his father-a former spected schools, hospitals and other vital public buildings in the to the private King Edward VII Hospital in central London on naval officer-was looking forward to being discharged. area, in addition to homes, state news agency ANA said, adding February 16. Buckingham Palace said initially that he was ex- William said he was in good hands and being closely mon- that schools were closed yesterday. pected to stay there for a “few days” after walking in unaided. itored. Queen Elizabeth II, who is 94, has herself continued her On Wednesday, the local governor said at least a hundred Later, the palace said that he was being treated for an infection, royal duties despite her husband’s illness. The couple have been homes and other buildings in the broader area, including without specifying further. But on Monday, he was taken to the married for more than 73 years. Philip’s illness comes as the churches, had been damaged. Emergency services told AFP 11 state-run St Bartholomew’s Hospital near St Paul’s Cathedral royal family has come under fierce criticism from Prince Harry’s people had been injured. —AFP for testing and observation of a “pre-existing heart condition”. wife Meghan Markle. —AFP