Former French PM indicted over Clearstream scandal

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin leaves the financial investigation unit enquiring into the long-running Clearstream probe in Paris, July 27, 2007.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    The former prime minister Friday appeared before judges, who are charged with handling investigations into the scandal, in which a plot was hatched "to tarnish the names" of prominent French politicians.

    Speaking at the end of the hearing, Villepin said that "at no moment" had he "ordered investigations into political personalities," nor had he "participated in organizing such apolitical maneuver."

    In 2004, a "slanderer" sent anonymous letters containing a list of prominent personalities, who were accused of operating dubious accounts purportedly held at Luxembourg-based securities clearinghouse Clearstream Luxembourg. Current French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Dominique Strauss-Kahn who has been proposed as new IMF chief, former ministers Alain Madelin and Jean-Pierre Chevenement were some of the senior politicians mentioned in the letters.

    Preliminary investigations into the claims revealed that it was a smear campaign and investigations were launched into the "smear campaign," at the request of some of those who were mentioned in the letters.

    In June 2006, Jean-Louis Gregorian, a former vice-president with the EADS group, was indicted in connection with the scandal and acknowledged having sent the anonymous letters. In December 2006, Villepin appeared before the judges handling the Clearstream scandal as a witness and subsequently denied any wrongdoing.

    In June 2007, Philippe Rondot, former senior French intelligence officer, who had led investigations into the matter unearthed new evidence in the form of notes showing that De Villepin had "instructed" Gregorian to send the anonymous letters to law enforcement agencies.

    Questioned once again over the anonymous letters, Gergorinac knowledged that he had received instructions from the former prime minister but added that Villepin had, at the time, believed in the authenticity of the accusations.

    In July 2007, the judges handling investigations into the scandal ordered Villepin's offices to be searched in connection with the matter.