France's former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope along with his former assistant Marc Joulaud have been found guilty of misappropriation of public funds, complicity and concealment as a part of "fake jobs" scandal by the Paris tribunal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-says-national-security-law-wont-undermine-autonomy-309637" hreflang="en">Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says national security law won't undermine autonomy</a>

According to the judgement, Francois Fillon was found guilty of paying about hundreds of thousands of euros to his wife and children as well as his assistant for non-existing jobs.&nbsp;

The former French Prime Minister has been sentenced to five years in prison, three of them suspended, as well as a fine of 375,000 euros ($423,000) and a ten -year ban on running for elections.

Fillon's Welsh wife Penelope has been sentenced to three years of prison and a fine of 375,000 euros.&nbsp;

Francois Fillion served as the prime minister under President Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012. In January 2017, Fillon was one of the favourites to become France's next leader but a scandal was brought up by French satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchainé. This scandal was known as "Penelopegate" which alleged that Fillon had paid his wife and children out of public funds to work as his assistants.

According to the report, &nbsp;his wife and two of his adult children earned nearly 1 million euros as parliamentary assistants for the alleged fake jobs.

Though Fillon rejected these claims and said it is not illegal and is 'error in judgement'.&nbsp;

Due to the scandal, Fillon's campaign was derailed paving the way for Emmanuel Macron to French Presidency.&nbsp;

France's former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope along with his former assistant Marc Joulaud have been found guilty of misappropriation of public funds, complicity and concealment as a part of "fake jobs" scandal by the Paris tribunal.

France's former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope along with his former assistant Marc Joulaud have been found guilty of misappropriation of public funds, complicity and concealment as a part of "fake jobs" scandal by the Paris tribunal. Also read: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says national security law won't undermine autonomy According to the judgement, Francois Fillon was found guilty of paying about hundreds of thousands of euros to his wife and children as well as his assistant for non-existing jobs. The former French Prime Minister has been sentenced to five years in prison, three of them suspended, as well as a fine of 375,000 euros ($423,000) and a ten -year ban on running for elections. Fillon's Welsh wife Penelope has been sentenced to three years of prison and a fine of 375,000 euros. Francois Fillion served as the prime minister under President Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012. In January 2017, Fillon was one of the favourites to become France's next leader but a scandal was brought up by French satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchainé. This scandal was known as "Penelopegate" which alleged that Fillon had paid his wife and children out of public funds to work as his assistants. According to the report, his wife and two of his adult children earned nearly 1 million euros as parliamentary assistants for the alleged fake jobs. Though Fillon rejected these claims and said it is not illegal and is 'error in judgement'. Due to the scandal, Fillon's campaign was derailed paving the way for Emmanuel Macron to French Presidency.

Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon found guilty for 'Penelopegate scandal'

&nbsp;French magistrates placed the wife of conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon under formal investigation on Tuesday over allegations she was paid hundreds of thousands of euros of public funds for work she did not do, a judicial source said.

British-born Penelope Fillon will be investigated on suspicion of complicity in misappropriating public funds, the source said.

The decision, which comes two weeks after Fillon himself was placed under formal investigation in the same case, is another blow to his faltering presidential campaign.

(Reuters)

Penelope Fillon will be investigated on suspicion of complicity in misappropriating public funds

French magistrates placed the wife of conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon under formal investigation on Tuesday over allegations she was paid hundreds of thousands of euros of public funds for work she did not do, a judicial source said. British-born Penelope Fillon will be investigated on suspicion of complicity in misappropriating public funds, the source said. The decision, which comes two weeks after Fillon himself was placed under formal investigation in the same case, is another blow to his faltering presidential campaign. (Reuters)

French presidential candidate Fillon's wife under formal investigation

penelope-fillon

Penelope Fillon, News on Penelope Fillon, stories on Penelope Fillon, articles on Penelope Fillon, Penelope Fillon stories at Wion, Penelope Fillon news, Penelope Fillon latest news

penelope fillon

Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon found guilty for 'Penelopegate scandal'

French presidential candidate Fillon's wife under formal investigation