FRANCE: Police detain L’Oreal quartet for second day as scandal rumbles on
Police detained for a second day fund manager Patrice de Maistre (pictured), a lawyer, society photographer Francois-Marie Banier (pictured) and the manager of a private island linked to Liliane Bettencourt, in a scandal that has shocked France. Read More
FRANCE: Police conduct new searches as Bettencourt probe intensifies
French police searched several homes and offices on Monday as part of a probe into allegations of tax evasion on the part of billionaire l’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt and illegal donations to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. Read More
FRANCE: Government and media on a collision course over Bettencourt scandal
The French government came out swinging Friday against news web site Mediapart and its director Edwy Plenel, slamming them as “the trashcan of the Internet” after the organisation published a series of revelations on the “Bettencourt Affair”. Read More
FRANCE: Govt report clears Woerth of role in tax evasion
Financial inspectors from the French finance ministry reported Sunday that Labour Minister Eric Woerth “did not intervene” to help L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt evade taxes when he was budget minister. Read More
Affaire Woerth-Bettencourt : quand le PS fait profil bas
Tout en réclamant la “transparence ” Martine Aubry s’est gardée de demander la démission du ministre du travail. Read More
FRANCE: Police raid financial advisor home over Sarkozy cash gift probe
French police searched the residence and office of a financial advisor to L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt to investigate allegations of illegal donations from France’s richest woman to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. Read More
FRANCE: Bettencourt’s ex-accountant partially retracts statement in L’Oreal donations scandal
Billionaire Liliane Bettencourt’s accountant, re-interrogated on Wednesday night by police, retracted parts of her statement regarding an alleged 50,000-euro payment to Labour Minister Eric Woerth. Read More
FRANCE: Labour minister to file complaint over illegal donations allegations
French Labour Minister Eric Woerth (photo) will file an official complaint for “malicious falsehood” over charges that he received illegal campaign donations for President Nicolas Sarkozy from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt and her late husband. Read More
FRANCE: Bettencourt scandal increases Mediapart site’s subscription base
French Web site Mediapart has been at the centre of a scandal that has stretched from French business life into top political circles. Founded by veteran journalist Edwy Plenel (pictured,) the site has set its sights on a fresh New Media model. Read More
FRANCE: Sarkozy accused of receiving illegal donation from L’Oreal heiress
French President Nicolas Sarkozy denied claims Tuesday he had received a 150,000 euro cash donation from scandal-hit L’Oreal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt. Bettencourt’s former accountant said the donation was made via Labour Minister Eric Woerth. Read More