Oil Crooks Everywhere.........Mitterrand Accused by Oil Exec
Sunday, June 17, 2001
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PARIS — A former oil executive convicted in a corruption scandal said on Sunday that former French president Francois Mitterand knew about his company's unlawful dealings.
Loik Le Floch-Prigent, head of the former state-owned oil giant Elf Aquitaine from 1989 to 1993, said Mitterrand knew the company padded its payroll and paid bribes.
According to Le Floch-Prigent, Elf's 1992 purchase of the Leuna oil refinery in communist East Germany was "a political decision" emanating from the presidential palace intended to help then-German chancellor Helmut Kohl.
"We must help our friend Kohl," Le Floch-Prigent quoted Mitterrand as saying at the time. French and German investigators are investigating whether bribes were paid in the sale.
"Sometimes, we even paid for Air France tickets, and this was with the full knowledge and approval of the president of the Republic," he said. "Francois Mitterrand knew everything."
Le Floch-Prigent was sentenced to 31/2 years in jail in May. He was convicted of misusing Elf company funds, but is currently free pending appeal.
"If I am guilty, it's for having served my country in the manner in which the country wanted me to serve it," he told Europe-1 radio.
Elf Aquitaine was taken over last year by the French-Belgian group TotalFina. |
