France's richest woman made an illegal cash donation to the election campaign of President Nicolas Sarkozy, it has been claimed.
Lilian Bettencourt, the billionaire L'Oreal heiress currently at the centre of tax evasion allegations, was said to have provided an envelope stuffed with cash in 2007.
It amounted to €150,000 (£125,000), according to a former accountant for the 87-year-old.
Mr Sarkozy has firmly denied receiving the money directly – but his spokesman would not rule out the possibility of it having been received by other campaign staff.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10346 posts, RR: 40 Reply 2, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 912 times:
It looks like we know only a little about what really happened. The rest will be kept under cover as all the protagonists are in the highest places. No doubt the most important facts will be hidden from the general public. Also, we are in the height of the Summer holiday season with people more concerned with the World Cup, the Tour de France and their holidays with family. We will see what happens come September. It will probably be business as usual. Sarkozy can sleep on his own two ears, the days of May 1968 revolt are long gone.
Nicolas Sarkozy was at the centre of a criminal investigation today following claims that he regularly received illegal payments from France's richest woman.
...
She is said to have provided Mr Sarkozy with "manila envelopes stuffed with cash" following dinner parties at her mansion house in the upmarket suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, where Mr Sarkozy was once mayor and still keeps a home.
ManuCH From Switzerland, joined Jun 2005, 2977 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 891 times:
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I think the real problem here is that there's a legal limit for political donations. Heck, if I were rich, I sure would want to donate whatever I want for whatever purpose.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10346 posts, RR: 40 Reply 6, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 829 times:
well... the latest is that they now all deny having done anything...
all innocents, yes... trust me!
this is on both sides...
The woman's accountant denies that they gave the money to Sarko and those from his polotical party (as if we could trust them)
the others are denying that they received any money from the uber-wealthy Mrs Bettencourt (L'Oreal heiress)
Much too easy... istn't it?
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
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