French prosecutor says fake work probe will continue

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February 16, 2017 2:31 PM

The prosecutor said that “numerous elements collected do not, at this stage, permit the case to be dropped.”

French presidential candidate Francois Fillon speaks during a campaign rally in Paris on January 29, 2017

France’s financial prosecutor on Thursday said in a statement that its investigations into fake work allegations surrounding presidential candidate Francois Fillon and his wife would continue.

The prosecutor said that “numerous elements collected (by investigators) do not, at this stage, permit the case to be dropped.”

She is being investigated over a scandal of embezzling hundreds of thousands of euros in taxpayers’ money.

Fillon’s wife was alleged of being paid for work she may not have done and this has cost the 62 year-old former prime minister his status as favourite to win the French presidency in May.

The prosecutor did not announce any further steps.

However, among the choices before it are dropping the case, taking it further by appointing an investigating magistrate, or sending it straight to trial.

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