The son of former French President Francois Mitterrand was still behind bars
in one of Paris' most notorious prisons today because he was unable to come up with the high bail demanded by a court investigating an arms trafficking deal.
Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, who is under investigation for complicity in weapons trafficking and misuse of political power, has been in La Sante prison since December 21.
A Paris court ordered his release yesterday but his lawyer said the 54-year-old, who denies any involvement in the case, was simply unable to come up with the bail.
Gilbert Mitterrand said his brother was happy that the court had decided to release him but did not want his friends and family to bear the financial burden of the high bail.
"Personally, he cannot pay it and he does not want his friends to repair an error made by the judge," he said.
Mitterrand is under investigation for his alleged role in a money-laundering scheme that involved illicit weapons sales from the former Soviet Union to Angola in the 1990s.