Top France court confirms ex-PM’s conviction in fake jobs scandal

Former French Prime Minister François Fillon’s conviction in a fake jobs scandal, which derailed his 2017 presidential campaign, was upheld by France’s Court of Cassation. However, a new trial for sentencing was ordered. Fillon, 70, was initially sentenced to four years in jail, with three years suspended, and fined 375,000 euros. The court ruled that a new sentencing trial would occur at the Paris court of appeal in the coming months. Fillon was found guilty of arranging a fake parliamentary assistant job for his wife, Penelope Fillon, resulting in her receiving millions of euros in public funds. Penelope Fillon was given a suspended two-year prison sentence and ordered to pay a fine. The couple was also instructed to repay 800,000 euros to the National Assembly. They have maintained that Penelope Fillon performed genuine constituency work.

Source – CGTN