|
Fugitive Politician to Return to France VOA News 5 Feb 2002 09:02 UTC 
Fugitive French politician Didier Schuller, after living for seven years in exile in the Caribbean, has boarded a plane for France to meet legal obligations.
The former French housing official left early Tuesday, a day after telling a Dominican Republic newspaper that he would not fight extradition proceedings launched by France last week.
Mr. Schuller is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued after he fled France in 1995. Authorities allege he was part of a kickback scheme involving President Jacques Chirac's Rally for the Republic political party. They allege building companies paid the party in order to obtain public sector contracts.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Schuller's estranged son revealed his father's whereabouts in an interview with a French newspaper. Dominican President Hipolito Mejia later confirmed Mr. Schuller was in the Caribbean country under police guard.
Mr. Schuller is quoted as saying he wants to return to France to tell his side of the story.
Reports say Mr. Schuller's alleged wrongdoing is part of a wider corruption scandal centering on Paris City Hall from 1977 until 1995 - while President Chirac was Paris mayor.
The development comes as France prepares for presidential and legislative elections later this year. Mr. Chirac is expected to seek re-election.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
|