A former French energy boss now aged 99 stands trial Monday with others on charges of corruption, in a case dating back to 2002 that his lawyers slam as an abomination.
Jean Bonnefont is charged with distorting the energy market to ensure the favourable awarding of a contract for the heating and air conditioning of the La Defense business district in Paris.
Along with Bonnefont, a former executive of the Charbonnages de France mining firm, also going on trial at the court in Nanterre outside Paris are former Eaux-Vivendi executive Bernard Forterre, now 82, and businessman Antoine Benetti, 68. It is impossible to grasp that a 99-year-old man is going on trial, said Olivier Baratelli, Bonnefont s lawyer.
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CORRECTS story dated Jan. 10. Corrects age of Bonnefont to 98 from 99, removes erroneous lawyer quote in fourth graf.
A former French energy boss now aged 98 stands trial Monday with others on charges of corruption, in a case dating back to 2002 that his lawyers slam as an abomination.
Jean Bonnefont is charged with distorting the energy market to ensure the favourable awarding of a contract for the heating and air conditioning of the La Defense business district in Paris.
Along with Bonnefont, a former executive of the Charbonnages de France mining firm, also going on trial at the court in Nanterre outside Paris are former Eaux-Vivendi executive Bernard Forterre, now 82, and businessman Antoine Benetti, 68.
Un prévenu de 98 ans, l ex-président de l AS Cannes…le casting du procès de la chaufferie de La Défense leparisien.fr - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from leparisien.fr Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.