LONG-STANDING rumours that the former French president Jacques Chirac holds a secret multi-million-euro bank account in Japan appear to have been confirmed by files seized from the home of a senior spy.
Papers seized by two investigating magistrates from General Philippe Rondot, a former head of the DGSE, France’s intelligence service, show Mr Chirac opened an account in the mid-1990s at Tokyo Sowa Bank, credited with the equivalent of £30 million. It is not known where the money came from, nor whether it is connected to various kick-back scandals to which Mr Chirac’s name has been linked over the past decade.
Last year, Mr Chirac “categorically denied” having a bank account in Japan.
The seized documents have been described by the magistrates as “explosive” and are believed to contain copies of the former president’s bank statements.
A magistrate close to the investigation told the satirical magazine Le Canard Enchaîné: “Subject to verification of the documents, there is enough material to open a new judicial investigation for breach of trust or for possession of money received from corruption. Moreover, the investigating judges have everything necessary to trace the network back to its ringleaders.”
Umh. Small change? Piggy bank? Wasn’t me? How did that get there? It’s my wife’s money? I sold (out) my cars, houses, country? I found it and wanted to give it back to the rightful owner? The spy set me up? Conspiracy? Saddam gave it to me?
It will be interesting to see whether Sarkozy will let Chirac off the hook or not, considering “Chirac is reported to have struck a deal with Mr Sarkozy, whereby the latter will push through judicial reforms ensuring the ex-president escapes prosecution.” One problem for Chirac: “the magistrates are expected to move before the reforms are passed this summer.”
The moral of the story: never trust a Frenchman.
