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French President Nicolas Sarkozy, photographed yesterday in Paris. Michel Euler/AP/Press Association Images
Bettencourt Scandal
Police raid Sarkozy's party headquarters
Investigation into L’Oreal heiress scandal continues.
POLICE IN PAIRS HAVE SEARCHED President Sarkozy’s party headquarters as part of their inquiry into the Liliane Bettencourt scandal.
Bettencourt is the heiress to the L’Oreal fortune and is believed to be France’s richest woman with a fortune worth over €17bn.
Authorities are investigating Labour Minister Eric Woerth’s alleged involvement. Woerth has already been questioned by police after an inquiry was launched into allegations of tax evasion and political corruption made against Bettencourt by a former staff member.
Woerth allegedly accepted illegal donations from Bettencourt on behalf of the ruling UMP party, but has denied the accusations.
UMP’s director general Eric Cesari told reports that police were looking for correspondent between Woerth and the manager of Bettencourt’s estate.
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