A French public prosecutor today demanded a two-year prison term for former Foreign Minister Mr Roland Dumas, accused of fraud in a massive corruption case centred on oil company Elf-Aquitaine.
Prosecutor Mr Jean-Pierre Champrenault said 78-year-old Dumas, a close friend of the late French PresidentFrancois Mitterrand, should also pay a fine of 2.5 million francs and be barred from holding public office.
Mr Dumas has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which has sent shock waves through France's political establishment, raising allegations of rampant, institutionalised corruption during President Mitterrand's 14-year rule.
The prosecutor also demanded a three-year prison term for Mr Dumas's former lover, Ms Christine Deviers-Joncour, and maximum five-year terms coupled with 2.5 million franc fines for former Elf chairman Mr Loik Le Floch-Prigent and his number two, Mr Alfred Sirven.
All the defendants denied charges that they misused funds at previously state-owned Elf. The trial is expected to wrap up on Wednesday and the verdicts will be delivered at an unspecified later date.