Ex-PM on trial in Clearstream affair
Dominique de Villepin is accused of trying to smear Nicolas Sarkozy's name
FORMER Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is appearing at the Paris Criminal Court in connection with the Clearstream affair.
He is suspected of involvement in a leak in 2004 of what turned out to be a faked list of account-holders at the Clearstream bank in Luxembourg which included Nicolas Sarkozy's name.
The named individuals were supposed to have benefited from illegal commissions from sales of warships. At the time, Villepin and Sarkozy were rivals to succeed then President Jacques Chirac. Sarkozy has declared himself a civil plaintiff in the case.
De Villepin denies any wrongdoing and has claimed it will be hard for him to have a fair trail while the person accusing him is president of France.
Timeline of events
2001: June: Inquiry opens into alleged kickbacks paid to officials for the $2.8bn sale of French frigates to Taiwan in 1991.
2004: May 3 and June 14: Judge receives letters and a CD-Rom, sent anonymously, which allege high-profile people received illegal commissions from the frigate deal. The informer gives the numbers of their accounts at Luxembourg-based clearing bank Clearstream. Among the businessmen and politicians mentioned are Sarkozy, then finance minister.
September 3: A defamation inquiry is launched following legal action by several industrialists targeted by the claims.
2006: April 28: Le Monde says ex-spy chief General Philippe Rondot told judges that Villepin had asked him, on January 9, 2004, to investigate Sarkozy on the orders of President Jacques Chirac. Villepin and Chirac deny the claims.
May 11: Le Monde publishes excerpts of hand-written notes kept by Rondot that show Chirac's direct involvement in ordering him to investigate Sarkozy.
2007: June 22: Chirac refuses to testify in the scandal.
July 27: Villepin is placed under formal investigation - a first step to possible criminal charges.
2008: Feb 22: End of the investigation.
June 3: Prosecutor says there is no proof against Villepin.
Oct 7: Public prosecutor demands Villepin appears in court.
2009: Sept: Villepin set to appear at Tribunal Correctionnel de Paris.
Photo: David Mendiboure, Service Photo de Matignon
