The Local France

Liliane Bettencourt: World's richest woman who was beset by legal drama dies aged 94

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 10:16:56 +0200

French tycoon Liliane Bettencourt, the world's richest woman, died on Wednesday aged 94. She sat atop the L'Oreal empire but faced an old age clouded by dementia and legal drama, not to mention her father's Nazi links.

Ten on trial over fortune of L'Oreal heiress

Mon, 26 Jan 2015 10:00:00 +0100

Ten people close to France's richest woman Liliane Bettencourt go on trial on Monday charged with exploiting the frail L'Oreal heiress in an explosive drama that began with a family feud and put a president in the court's crosshairs.

Sarkozy: 'Justice has declared me innocent'

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 21:10:00 +0200

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy thanked his family, friends and indeed France for sticking by him after French judges on Monday dropped corruption charges related to the financing of his 2007 presidential election campaign.

Sarkozy in late bid to halt corruption charges

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:34:00 +0200

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy lauched a last-ditch bid on Monday to have corruption charges against him dropped, which could pave the way for a return to politics. He is accused of accepting campaign money from L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

Court backs Sarkozy corruption charges

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:34:00 +0200

A French appeal court on Tuesday threw out a bid by former president Nicolas Sarkozy to have corruption charges linked to his 2007 election campaign dropped.

Drop charges against Sarkozy: Prosecutors

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 18:48:00 +0200

A prosecutor in the south-western city of Bordeaux on Friday called for charges to be dropped against former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is accused of taking financial advantage of the L'Oreal heiress and billionaire Liliane Bettencourt.

France probes Libya link to Sarkozy campaign

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:20:00 +0200

French former president Nicolas Sarkozy is to be investigated over allegations that he accepted cash from former Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 election campaign.

Judge in Sarkozy case receives death threat

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:48:00 +0100

The row over a corruption probe against Nicolas Sarkozy has escalated after the judge who charged France's former president received a bullet and a death threat in the post.

Bruni: Sarkozy charges a 'painful ordeal' for family

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:41:00 +0100

Singer and former first lady Carla Bruni said her family was enduring a "painful ordeal" after her husband, former President Nicolas Sarkozy was hit with criminal charges last week in relation to an investigation into party funding.

Sarkozy breaks silence: 'The truth will triumph'

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:07:00 +0100

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy broke his silence on Monday afternoon for the first time since being charged with taking financial advantage of the world's richest woman Liliane Bettencourt. He called the charges against him "unfair and unfounded."

France reacts to Sarkozy indictment ‘thunderbolt’

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:35:00 +0100

The headlines in France on Friday have been dominated by the charges brought against former French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday night, connected to a funding scandal. The war of words has already begun between supporters and opponents of Sarkozy.

'Abuse' charges threaten Sarkozy comeback

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:12:00 +0100

The life of former president Nicolas Sarkozy took a sensational turn on Thursday when he was charged with taking financial advantage of Lilian Bettencourt, his lawyer confirmed. Sarkozy is set to appeal the decision.

The mixed fortunes of France's beauty queen

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:29:00 +0100

The heiress to the L'Oreal beauty products empire, she was just named the world's richest woman. But mental health woes and a feud with her daughter have tainted her twilight years. Liliane Bettencourt is our French Face of the Week.

Snapper's slander bags million for homeless man

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:32:00 +0100

A former homeless man has won €1 million in court after suing legendary society photographer and one-time Liliane Bettencourt heir François Marie Banier, who accused him of homophobia.

Sarkozy to appear before graft inquiry

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:32:00 +0100

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will appear before investigating magistrates on Thursday and could be indicted in a probe into illegal campaign financing, judicial sources said Tuesday.

Photographer charged over L'Oreal heiress relationship

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:06:00 +0100

A French court Wednesday charged a celebrity photographer with abusing his relationship with aged L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt after he was named a beneficiary in her will.

L'Oréal heiress declared mentally unfit by court

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:41:00 +0200

Billionaire L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt is to be placed under the guardianship of family members, according to the lawyer of her estranged daughter Francoise after a court hearing.

Top cop to be quizzed over spying on journalist

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:14:00 +0200

France's top policeman and the head of its domestic intelligence agency, both close to President Nicolas Sarkozy, are to be questioned by a judge over allegations they spied on journalists, a source
familiar with the case said Wednesday.

Bettencourt brands daughter 'disturbed'

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:33:00 +0200

The heiress to the L'Oreal cosmetics empire branded her estranged daughter mentally disturbed on Sunday, as their battle re-erupted over the family billions, entangled in political scandals.