PARIS — Anti-corruption prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations that French Culture Minister Rachida Dati failed to declare her expensive jewelry collection in a declaration of assets that all Cabinet members are required to submit.
The probe follows an April report from Libération that Dati, who is also polling as a front-runner in the race to replace Anne Hidalgo as Paris mayor next year — had not declared to France’s transparency watchdog 19 pieces of jewelry with an estimated total value of €420,000.
Elected officials in France are required to declare assets worth more than €10,000. Failure to do so can result in a criminal sanction of three years in prison and a €45,000 fine.
Dati has vehemently rejected any allegations of wrongdoing in the past, stating in May that she had “nothing to correct” in her declaration of assets. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Tuesday’s statement from prosecutors saying that a probe had been opened “following alerts alleging possible offenses related to the failure to declare jewelry.”
This isn’t Dati’s only legal concern.
Over the summer, Dati learned that she would face trial along with former Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn on charges of corruption. Prosecutors believe that Dati was paid for consultancy work by a subsidiary of the auto company while not actually filling the role of a consultant, instead being paid to promote the company’s interests as a member of the European Parliament. She has denied any wrongdoing in that case as well.
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