Tuesday, June 16th: Six people in France have been sentenced to two to five years in prison for accepting a bribe of about 1.8 million pounds in a submarine deal with Pakistan in the 1990’s. Three former French government officials and three others were found involved in the ‘Karachi affair’ or ‘Karachi Gate’. The deal involved secret bribes to bring money to France. Some of the money was allegedly used for former French Prime Minister Édouard Balladur’s failed presidential campaign. Balladur, 91, and his defense minister, Francois Leotard, have been charged and will face criminal trial in Paris in the coming months. Both men deny all allegations. The sentences handed down on Monday came after a lengthy investigation. Among those arrested was Nicholas Buzzier, a former government official who had previously been Balladur’s election campaign manager. Rena Donadio de Vibres, a former adviser to Leotard, was sentenced to three years in prison. Thierry Gabert, who was in charge of sales and commissions at the time and an old close associate of Budget Minister Sarkozy, has been sentenced to two years in prison. Other people sentenced in Paris include former defense contractor Dominic Castillon, who was sentenced to two years in … Continue reading Which former French officials were convicted in the ‘Karachi affair’?