Elf fugitive faces German grilling

FRANKFURT, Germany -- German investigators are to question a key figure in France's Elf corruption trial who has also been linked to a political financial scandal in Germany.

Members of the German parliamentary inquiry will interrogate Alfred Sirven in Frankfurt where he is being held in jail awaiting extradition to France on Tuesday.

It remains unclear whether the "man who could bring down the republic," as he has been dubbed in France, would cooperate with the German inquiry.

"If he speaks to the committee, he could bring light into the jungle of rumours," said Frank Hofmann the governing Social Democrats' spokesman on the parliamentary investigating panel.

A German court agreed to extradite Sirven, once number two at the French oil company, and he is due to be handed over to French officials in Frankfurt at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Tuesday.

The court gave German officials until then to question him on allegations that Elf bribed the government of the former Chancellor Helmut Kohl in the early 1990s when it took over a refinery.

Hoffmann said: "When we've got the good fortune to land this big fish in Germany it would be absurd to let him go and see if maybe we can interview him in France."

Sirven's German lawyer, Susanne Wagner, said: "He is in principle prepared to answer questions but he needs time to prepare himself mentally and spiritually."

French trial

In Paris, the trial of ex-foreign minister Roland Dumas was postponed on Monday to await the return of Sirven, 74.

Sirven was seized in the Philippines last week and intercepted at Frankfurt airport on arrival from Manila, by German police.

He has been charged in France with distributing millions of dollars from an Elf slush fund and has so far been tried in absentia alongside Dumas. Dumas's former mistress and three others are also on trial.

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said: "The bottom line is that Sirven will be in France soon.

"Then he will be able to answer for his acts or at least be questioned by justice officials. That's what counts."

Dumas's lawyer said the next sitting of the Paris trial on Wednesday would decide on an adjournment of five to six weeks to allow Sirven and his lawyers to get to grips with the case.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Dumas trial adjourned after arrest
February 5, 2001
Bribe suspect extradition granted
February 5, 2001
Germany holds key Elf suspect
February 3, 2001
French ex-minister threatens court
January 31, 2001

Elf Aquitaine
French Justice Ministry
German Government and Politics

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