Le Pen charged in funding probe

French far-right leader accused of misusing EU funds

French far-right leader accused of misusing EU funds.

Paris: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been charged with making illegal claims involving millions of euros from the European Parliament to pay for France-based staff.

Rodolphe Bosselut said Le Pen had been summoned by investigating magistrates in Paris on Friday and that they had, “as expected, charged her”, adding that she would appeal.

A judicial source said she had been charged with breach of trust over the salaries paid to her chief of staff Catherine Griset and her bodyguard Thierry Legier and for com- plicity in breach of trust as FN leader.

If tried and convicted, Le Pen faces up to three years imprison

€ ment and a fine of up to 375,000 euros (RM1.8mil), although it is unlikely she would receive a custodial sentence.

The 48-year-old National Front leader, who made a failed run for president this year, invoked her immunity as a member of the European Parliament in refusing to answer questions from investigators during the campaign.

She had, however, promised to cooperate with the investigation after the May presidential and June parliamentary elections were over.

At Friday’s meeting with the magistrates, she read out a declaration and declined to answer questions, as allowed by the law, her lawyer said.

Investigators suspect the FN used money from Brussels earmarked for parliamentary assistants to pay staff for party work in France.

The European Parliament claims it was defrauded of up to five million euros.

Griset and another FN assistant have already been charged with covering up breach of trust. Le Pen was first elected to the European Parliament in 2004.

She is one of 17 National Front lawmakers -- along with her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, from whom she is estranged, and her partner, FN vice-president Louis Aliot -- being investigated over salaries paid to around 40 parliamentary assistants.

Le Pen, an anti-EU nationalist, beat the candidates of the traditional right and left to secure a spot in May’s presidential run-off against Macron, a pro-EU centrist.

But she was soundly beaten by Macron in the second round.