French Prosecutor Demands Trial For Former Prime Minister Fillon - Reports

00:16 GMT, 12 January 2019

PARIS (Sputnik) - France’s national financial prosecutor’s office requires a trial for former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his wife, who are charged with embezzlement of state funds, local media reported Friday.

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According to French newspaper Le Monde, a process may begin until the end of 2019, if the relevant judicial decision is made.

The scandal around Fillon arose in January 2017, when the satirical weekly magazine Le Canard Enchaine reported that Fillon’s wife had been paid up to $8,500 for working as her husband's parliamentary aide and received a $5,400 monthly salary at the prestigious cultural magazine La Revue des Deux Mondes, which is owned by Fillon's friend Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere.

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According to the magazine, Charles and Marie Fillon, who worked as their father’s assistants between 2005 and 2007, had earned about $90,700, though it was unclear whether they had really exercised their job responsibilities.

In June, Fillon has been charged with embezzlement of state funds to give fake jobs to members of his family and complicity, concealment and neglect of his duties when filing tax returns.

Fillon served as the prime minister of France from 2007 to 2012 under President Nicolas Sarkozy.