The Bettencourt scandal: Politics, cash and cosmetics

Special Report

Last modification: 25/03/13

The Bettencourt scandal: France’s richest woman, the country’s former Labour Minister Eric Woerth, and President Nicolas Sarkozy have all been linked to a murky affair involving allegations of tax evasion and taking illegal campaign cash...

FRANCE

Corruption probe 'unfair and unfounded', Sarkozy says

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said an inquiry into illegal campaign funding involving L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt was "unfair and unfounded" on Monday, his first public comments since a formal investigation was launched last week.

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France

Sarkozy investigated for 'exploiting' L’Oréal heiress

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation by a Bordeaux court over allegations his 2007 election campaign received illegal donations from France's richest woman, L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

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FRANCE

L’Oréal heiress Bettencourt is world’s richest woman

L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt has been named the wealthiest woman in the world after breaking into Forbes magazine’s “Top 20 Billionaires” list for the first time since 1999. Her net worth is estimated at $30 billion.

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FRANCE

Sarkozy denies taking cash from L'Oréal heiress

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy told a court in the southwest city of Bordeaux on Friday he had never received or asked for money from L'Oréal heiress Lilian Bettencourt as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal campaign funds.

FRANCE

Sarkozy escapes indictment, but inquiry continues

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy avoided indictment Thursday after being questioned over whether his campaign accepted illegal funds. Sarkozy remains a witness under caution, which means credible evidence calls for a continuing investigation.

FRANCE

French lawyer charged with exploiting L'Oréal heiress

French tax lawyer Fabrice Goguel was charged on Friday with exploiting elderly L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt (pictured) by persuading her to donate an island in the Seychelles and €20 million to his Liechtenstein-based foundation.

FRANCE

L'Oreal heiress scandal is back in the headlines

The daughter of France’s richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, is once again trying to have her mother made a ward of court in an effort to protect her inheritance. The scandal has dominated French headlines since summer 2010.

France

Billionaire Bettencourt reconciles with daughter

L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, France’s richest woman, reconciled with her daughter on Monday and agreed to end all ongoing court cases. Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers had tried to declare her mother “mentally unfit” to handle her fortune.

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FRANCE

'Mr Perfect' casts pall over Sarkozy's 'irreproachable Republic'

The storm engulfing a key ally of French President Nicolas Sarkozy has revived widespread cynicism in a country accustomed to politico-financial scandals, and undermined Sarkozy’s efforts to give his administration a cleaner image.

FRANCE

Police raid may be beginning of Sarkozy's legal woes

Now that former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s immunity from prosecution has expired, he can expect to be the focus of a number of investigations involving illegal funding for political party purposes.

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FRANCE

Police search Nicolas Sarkozy's home and office

Investigators searched the office and home of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured) as part of a probe into suspected illegal financing of his 2007 campaign by L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, an official said Tuesday.

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