PARIS: The French Senate yesterday lifted Serge Dassault’s immunity from prosecution in a move that clears the way for the billionaire industrialist and senator to face corruption charges.
The decision by a Senate committee means Dassault, 88, can immediately be taken into custody for interrogation by judges investigating alleged vote-buying dating from his time as mayor of Corbeil-Essonnes, a Paris suburb he has been accused of running like a mafia Godfather.
Dassault is ranked by Forbes magazine as France’s 4th-richest man and the 69th-richest in the world with an estimated fortune of €13bn.
He admits using his vast personal wealth to help residents of Corbeil, where he was mayor from 1995-2009, but denies any payouts were made in exchange for electoral support.
Serge Dassault heads the Dassault Group, which notably owns French daily Le Figaro and a majority stake in Dassault Aviation, which makes business and military aircraft.
Judges suspect Dassault of operating a system of vote-buying which influenced the outcome of mayoral elections in Corbeil in 2008, 2009 and 2010, won either by Dassault, or by his close associate Jean-Pierre Bechter.
AFP
