Ex-French Defence Minister Leotard given 2-year suspended sentence in 'Karachi affair' case
Mar 04, 2021
Paris [France], March 4 : Former French Defence Minister Francois Leotard has been given a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of 100,000 euros in the corruption trial also known as 'Karachi affair'.
Leotard was convicted of complicity "in the misuse of corporate assets" over the sale of submarines to Pakistan and frigates to Saudi Arabia between 1993 and 1995, Sputnik reported.
Along with Leotard, former French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur was accused of involvement in the payment of kickbacks totalling 2 million euros relating to the sale of French submarines to Pakistan.
The 91-year-old former prime minister was acquited, however, Francois Leotard was convicted in the case.
Balladur was found innocent by the Law Court of the Republic (CJR), which tries serving and former ministers for alleged violations committed while in office.
Neither Leotard nor Balladur was present in court for the verdict.
In 2017, Leotard and Balladur were charged with misusing corporate assets while negotiating the sale of Agosta submarines to Pakistan and frigates to Saudi Arabia back in the 1990s. At the time, France was competing for defence contracts with the UK and the Pakistani politicians were bribed to ensure they chose the French submarines.
