IMF chief Lagarde to appear in court over French corruption probe

PARIS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde will answer questions at a French court on Thursday over alleged abuse of office during her time as French finance minister, local media reported on Wednesday.

Lagarde is the target of the investigation for "complicity in forgery and embezzlement of public funds."

The hearing will be held by French Court of Justice (CJR) on Thursday and Friday, French daily Le Monde reported.

She will be questioned over her role in the awarding of financial compensation by granting up to 403 million euros (521 million U.S. dollars) to businessman Bernard Tapie in his dispute with Credit Lyonnais on the acquisition of Adidas in 2008.

Lagarde denies any wrongdoing.

Her lawyer Yves Repiquet said that Lagarde's court appearance will give her for the first time "the opportunity to provide (the CJR) with explanations and clarifications that exempt her from any criminal responsibility."

In March, French police searched Lagarde's home in Paris as a primary probe.

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