Paris, May 27 (ANI): French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, who is being touted as the possible successor to Dominique Strauss-Kahn as head of the International Monetary Fund, is reportedly facing prosecution for some financial impropriety.
The 55-year-old former lawyer and synchronised swimmer is being investigated for abusing her position, and paying about 270 million pounds to Bernard Tapie, a convicted football match fixer and tax dodger who supported her governing UMP party, the Daily Mail reports.
The allegations come after Strauss-Kahn's arrest for allegedly raping a hotel maid in New York earlier this month that eventually led to his resignation.
Although Lagarde has been campaigning to succeed him as IMF head, reports have emerged that she could be facing a trial soon.
Paris's Court of Cassation has already started an enquiry to determine Lagarde's role in the Tapie case last month.
Tapie, former head of Adidas in France, claims he was cheated out of millions by Credit Lyonnais bank when the sports kit empire was sold in 1993.
In 2007, Largarde ended the dispute by ordering a panel of judges to arbitrate and, in turn, they awarded Tapie the 270 million pounds in damages.
This made opposition MPs furious, and former presidential candidate Francois Bayrou even accused Lagarde of 'dipping into the taxpayers' pocket for a private beneficiary.'
Lagarde, however, has denied all allegations against her.
"If it's decided to continue with this enquiry it won't be particularly surprising. Personally, it doesn't worry me at all. I didn't benefit personally," she added. (ANI)
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