Posted on 05/24/2007 2:57:43 PM PDT by oblomov
LONG-STANDING rumours that the former French president Jacques Chirac holds a secret multi-million-euro bank account in Japan appear to have been confirmed by files seized from the home of a senior spy.
Papers seized by two investigating magistrates from General Philippe Rondot, a former head of the DGSE, France's intelligence service, show Mr Chirac opened an account in the mid-1990s at Tokyo Sowa Bank, credited with the equivalent of £30 million. It is not known where the money came from, nor whether it is connected to various kick-back scandals to which Mr Chirac's name has been linked over the past decade.
Last year, Mr Chirac "categorically denied" having a bank account in Japan.
The seized documents have been described by the magistrates as "explosive" and are believed to contain copies of the former president's bank statements.
A magistrate close to the investigation told the satirical magazine Le Canard Enchaîné: "Subject to verification of the documents, there is enough material to open a new judicial investigation for breach of trust or for possession of money received from corruption. Moreover, the investigating judges have everything necessary to trace the network back to its ringleaders."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.scotsman.com ...
bump
That is one man who deserves to be hanged.
Oil for food deals can be very lucrative.
The phrase what goes around comes around comes to mind right now, while I laugh my arse off that Chirac is being exposed and soon to be nailed for his corruption.
Selling France's UN veto to Saddam Hussein brought in a good fee for Chiraq as well.
Oil for food deals can be very lucrative.
Selling France's UN veto to Saddam Hussein brought in a good fee for Chiraq as well.
But! Does it rise to the level of impeachment? ;^)
Exposed, but likely not “nailed”. Unfortunately. There will be a deal with Sarkozy to minimize French Presidentail embarassment. Sarkozy needs to be encouraged to let the guy swing....
My thoughts exactly....
You know, I’m usually the one berrating people about putting stuff that doesn’t belong in Breaking News, but I think you short credited yourself on this one, oblomov.
SBM, what say you? Breaking News worthy?
Thanks for you consideration,
O_E
Oh, that's mine. Sorry for leaving it there and causing this mess. Would someone please send me my account numbers again...
Thrown into a panic, Mr Chirac is said to have summoned Gen Rondot in 2001 and ordered him to destroy all DGSE evidence of the account. Unfortunately for the president, the spy simply removed the notes and memos about the affair to his home, where they were seized in March last year by Mr d'Huy and Mr Pons. Since then, the judges have been discreetly pursuing an investigation, interviewing 20 intelligence officers about the affair.
Mr Chirac is reported to have struck a deal with Mr Sarkozy, whereby the latter will push through judicial reforms ensuring the ex-president escapes prosecution. However, the magistrates are expected to move before the reforms are passed this summer.
Very interesting!
The alleged evidence was discovered by judges Jean-Marie d'Huy and Henri Pons after they seized 112 bound files and numerous other documents from the home of Gen Rondot in connection with their inquiry into an alleged smear campaign. Dubbed "The French Watergate", it centred on whether Dominique de Villepin, the then prime minister, had asked Gen Rondot to dig up dirt on Mr Sarkozy, then interior minister, who had been wrongly accused of receiving kickbacks from the £1.4 billion sale of French frigates to Taiwan in 1991.
Good idea. Elevate this news! This IS breaking!
ChIRAQ 
Tant piss...
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