FRANCE: Heavy prison sentences for Pinochet-era officials

A Paris court on Friday slammed 13 Pinochet-era officials accused of having a hand in the disappearance of four French citizens in the 1970s with prison sentences of 15 years to life. The charges against them included kidnapping and torture. Read More

FRANCE: Paris court sentences ex-dictator Noriega to seven years in jail

A French court has sentenced 76-year-old former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega to seven years in jail for laundering some 2.3 million euros in drug money through French banks during the 1980s. Read More

FRANCE: SocGen demands €4.9 billion from Kerviel to compensate losses

French bank Société Générale on Wednesday told a Paris court it wants €4.9 billion in compensation from former employee Jérôme Kerviel, who is on trial for alleged illicit trading that cost the bank €5 billion in losses. Read More

FRANCE: Kerviel defiant as SocGen managers take the stand

Current and former managers at French bank Société Générale give their first evidence at a Paris court Wednesday a day after alleged rogue trader Jérôme Kerviel accused his former employers of “encouraging” him to take risks. Read More

JUSTICE: French court opposes Iranian engineer’s extradition to US

The Paris court of appeals on Wednesday rejected a request to extradite Iranian engineer Majid Kakavand to the United States, where he has been accused of illegally furnishing Iran with technology that could be used for military purposes. Read More

FRANCE: FRANCE 24 fined for violating privacy over Sarkozy affair rumour

A Paris court on Friday fined FRANCE 24 €3,000 for violating the privacy of French pop singer Benjamin Biolay by publicising rumours that he was having an affair with the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (right). Read More