Mitterrand bails out her son from prison

The former first lady of France went to the Palais de Justice yesterday morning to bail out her son, who was arrested on December 21st on suspicion of arms-trafficking, influence-peddling and embezzlement.

Looking tired and drawn, Mrs Danielle Mitterrand told waiting reporters: "I got together the money that I brought to pay the ransom. Note the word ransom." She said that "lawyers, singers, actors, producers, brothers and sisters, ministers, the Mitterrand generation" pitched in to pay the unusually high bail of five million francs (£600,224) demanded for the release of her son, Jean-Christophe.

Mr Jean-Christophe Mitterrand (54) walked out of La Sante prison three hours later. His passport was confiscated. He cannot leave France and must report to the police every week.

Mr Mitterrand, a former correspondent for Agence France Presse, served as a presidential adviser on African policy from 1986 until 1992, during his father Francois's 14 years in power. His nickname, "Papa-m'a-dit" (Daddy told me), and his close relations with often dubious African regimes drew attention, so he left the Elysee to work as a private consultant.

According to leaks in the French press, the investigating magistrate, Judge Philippe Courroye, believes Mr Mitterrand served as the middleman for the illegal sale of $500 million (£420 million) worth of surplus Russian weapons, including fighter bombers, to the government of Angola.

Mr Pierre Falcone, the head of the arms company which made the sales, has been in prison since the beginning of December.

Mr Mitterrand admits having introduced Mr Falcone to the Angolan President, Mr Eduardo Dos Santos, but claims the "advice" he provided was "strategic" not "operational" and that he was unaware that Mr Falcone was an arms dealer.

In an interview with Le Nouvel Observateur, Mr Mitterrand admitted he committed an error by not declaring to French tax authorities the $1.8 million which Mr Falcone paid into his Swiss bank account. But this in no way justified his incarceration, he added.

Judge Courroye showed "real hatred" and tried to humiliate him during questioning, Mr Mitterrand complained. "He started reading on his computer screen my name, date and place of birth and then he stopped. He turned slowly towards me and asked: `First name of your father?' "

The judge also insisted that Mr Mitterrand be handcuffed during the 10minute ride from his chambers to the Palais de Justice. "The two policemen accompanying me carried guns," he said.