French far-right leader questioned over EU fund misuse allegation

Marine Le Pen, French far-right leader on Friday was questioned by judges investigating into allegation that she used European parliament fund to pay her party staff, according to local report.

Le Pen, the head of anti-EU "National Rally" party, formerly known as the "National Front", appeared in Paris court earlier in the day for a first hearing over the fake job affair after she refused to appear before judges on March 2017, BFMTV news channel reported.

During the questioning, investigative magistrates had stepped up inquiry into the alleged misuse of European fund by Le Pen party, placing the 50-year-old lawyer under formal investigation over charges of embezzling public funds.

In December 2016, French prosecutor opened an investigation for breach of trust, organized fraud scams and forgery after the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) accused Le Pen of paying her France-based chief of staff a total of 298,500 euros for her work as parliamentary assistant between December 2010 and February 2016.

If convicted, the far-right leader, who rejected any wrongdoing, risks to be sentenced to 10 years in jail and pay 1 million-euro fine.