France - Bettencourt court case

Trial over alleged fraud of l'Oréal heiress

Article published on the 2009-12-12 Latest update 2009-12-12 13:49 TU

Liliane Bettencourt
(Photo: AFP)

A well-connected French photographer is to face trial over gifts of 993 million euros received from the heiress to the l'Oréal perfume company, Liliane Bettencourt.

A court in Nanterre, just outside Paris, ruled that 62-year-old Banier must face trial next April over accusations that he "exploited the weakness" of 87-year-old Bettencourt.

She insists that she handed over the gifts voluntarily and that she is still of sound mind.

But her daughter Françoise instigated legal action, claiming that her mother's mental state is declining and that Banier exploited it, while attempting to keep her apart from the family.

Public prosecutors decided to take no action after a preliminary inquiry.

"If Monsieur Banier is completely innocent, if Madame Bettencourt is really very well, why try and avoid a legal judgement of the facts?" asked Françoise Bettencourt's lawyer, Olivier Metzner, during Friday's highly charged hearing.

"Enough!" responded Liliane Bettencourt's lawyer Georges Kiejman. "My client acted of her own free will. She is not a vegetable. You won't be able to do whatever you want with her."

Before the trial Liliane Bettencourt will have to undergo a medical examination to find out if she was in a fit mental state when she made the gifts.

Banier, whom Metzner described as a "predator", is a self-taught photographer, artist and author, whose previous patrons include the Vicomtesse Marie-Laure de Noailles. He has worked as personal attaché de presse to fashion house owner Pierre Cardin.

He has counted playwright Samuel Beckett and actor Johnny Depp among his friends.

If found guilty, he could face up to three years in jail and a fine of 375,000 euros.