Ex-French minister charged with corruption in Bettencourt case

Feb 9, 2012, 9:00 GMT

Paris - Former French labour minister Eric Woerth was charged with corruption late Wednesday as part of an investigation into whether billionaire L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt illegally funded President Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign.

Woerth, the former treasurer of Sarkozy's ruling Union for a Popular Movement, was charged with 'passive influence peddling' by a public official, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and 150,000 euros (200,000 dollars).

He is the first senior politician to be charged over the so-called Bettencourt affair, which hangs over Sarkozy as he prepares to seek re-election in two months.

Investigating magistrates in Bordeaux questioned Woerth for nearly 12 hours following claims by Bettencourt's former accountant that she was asked to make cash payments from Bettencourt's estate in 2007, that she understood to be destined for Sarkozy's election campaign.

Accountant Claire Thibout said she handed over 50,000 euros in cash to Bettencourt's financial manager Patrick de Maistre, on the understanding that it was to be given to Woerth towards the campaign.

Woerth and de Maistre have both denied the allegations, which nonetheless saw Woerth forced to quit the government in 2010.

Individual election campaign donations are capped at 4,600 euros under French law.

The magistrates did not retain charges of illegal campaign funding against Woerth.

The charge of influence peddling is believed to relate to his links to de Maistre, who received the country's highest honour, the Legion of Honour, two months after the election.

Around the same time, De Maistre hired Woerth's wife Florence to help manage Bettencourt's fortune.

Last year, De Maistre was charged with taking advantage of Bettencourt's frailty. The 93-year-old billionaire, who is embroiled in a fierce feud with her family over her estate, has Alzheimer's disease.