Suspect found dead as France’s ‘Chinese wedding’ trial opens
8 April 2015 6:03 AM IST
The former French mayor of Tours, who was due to take the stand in a corruption case involving fake Chinese wedding trips in the picturesque Loire valley city, was found dead as the trial opened on Tuesday. Jean Germain left a “goodbye letter” before disappearing without a trace, his lawyer Dominique Tricaud told reporters at the opening of the trial. “The last time I saw him was last week.
He said that no one in his family had ever stood accused in court he saw it as a sort of dishonour,” the lawyer added.
“I am overwhelmed ... this morning he vanished leaving a goodbye letter at his house.” A police source later said he had been found dead near his home. “According to the very initial elements of the inquiry, we’re looking at a suicide,” said this source.
Germain, 67, was due to stand trial for his alleged complicity in a corruption case over Chinese “weddings” that took place in Tours between 2007 and 2011. A member of his staff, Lise Han, stands accused of fraud, collusion and mishandling public funds.She was also allegedly running a private company organising “wedding trips”.
He said that no one in his family had ever stood accused in court he saw it as a sort of dishonour,” the lawyer added.
“I am overwhelmed ... this morning he vanished leaving a goodbye letter at his house.” A police source later said he had been found dead near his home. “According to the very initial elements of the inquiry, we’re looking at a suicide,” said this source.
Germain, 67, was due to stand trial for his alleged complicity in a corruption case over Chinese “weddings” that took place in Tours between 2007 and 2011. A member of his staff, Lise Han, stands accused of fraud, collusion and mishandling public funds.She was also allegedly running a private company organising “wedding trips”.
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