IMF’s Christine Lagarde’s flat searched by police

Published on 20/03/2013 13:23

CHRISTINE Lagarde’s flat was searched by police amid an investigation into allegations of criminality over a multi-million euro payment made to Bernard Tapie.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Lagarde denies any wrongdoing over allegations she approved a payment of €285 million to Tapie while she worked under then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy as Finance Minister.

Tapie, a supporter of Sarkozy, is alleged to have received the arbitration payout in 2008 after Lagarde sought to settle a 2007 dispute between the businessman and Credit Lyonnaise.

“This search will help uncover the truth, which will contribute to exonerating my client from any criminal wrongdoing,” Lagarde’s lawyer, Yves Repiquet, told Reuters.