EU anti-fraud body accuses Marine Le Pen of embezzlement
The Hindu
Her lawyer dismissed the accusations, raising suspicions over the "timing" of the report.
The EU's anti-fraud body has accused French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and associates of embezzling around 6,00,000 euros during their time as MEPs, French website Mediapart said Saturday, quoting a new report.
The allegations come just over a week before Le Pen goes head-to-head with incumbent Emmanuel Macron in the second round of presidential elections.
Her lawyer dismissed the accusations, raising suspicions over the "timing" of the report.
Mediapart published extracts from the new report by OLAF into expenses that political groups can make as part of their mandate as MEPs.
The agency accuses Le Pen and others of having used the funds for national political purposes, personal expenses or for services that would benefit commercial companies close to her National Rally party and the far-right parliamentary group, Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF).
The report points the finger at Le Pen and three other former members of the European parliament including her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, her ex-partner Louis Aliot and former far-right MEP Bruno Gollnisch.
The body accuses the four of having embezzled around 6,00,000 euros ($6,50,000), which it recommends they repay.
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