French ex-minister threatens court

PARIS, France -- Former French foreign minister Roland Dumas stormed from the witness stand and refused to answer further questions at his trial for allegedly benefiting from arms deal commissions.

As he left the witness stand he said: "This is a scandal. No effort has been spared to try to dirty a public figure."

Dumas was answering questions for a second day when he abruptly left the witness box forcing the case to be temporarily adjourned.

The case centres on the sale of six frigates to Taiwan -- which signalled a change in French policy and led to widespread allegations that French and Taiwanese officials benefited from bribes to ensure the deal was successful.

Dumas and six others are facing charges of benefiting from commissions paid out in a 16 billion franc ($2.08 billion) contract for six vessels.

After his flight from the witness box Dumas returned to his reserved chair where he said: "One day, I'll take care of certain magistrates."

The court session was suspended by court President Sophie Portier and it was recorded that Dumas, once France's fifth-highest-ranking public figure, had levelled threats against the court.

Prior to his outburst, deputy prosecutor Jean-Pierre Champrenault had asked Dumas to explain the origin of about 10 million francs ($1.4 million) deposited in a series of cash deposits in his bank account over eight years.

Dumas has so far offered differing explanations for the origin of the deposits.

Also on trial is his former mistress, Christine Deviers-Joncour, who has admitted receiving the equivalent of $92 million to lobby Dumas to approve the sale.

The prosecution contends Dumas helped Deviers-Joncour obtain a job as a lobbyist with petroleum giant Elf, which paid the commissions even though the frigates were built by defence group Thomson-CSF, and that he then benefited from the fortune showered on her.

Dumas denies the accusations. If found guilty of "complicity and illegally receiving funds," faces a maximum five years in jail.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Roland Dumas
Elf Aquitaine group
Thomson CSF

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