French ex-minister Dati goes on trial in Renault-Nissan corruption case

France's ex-culture minister Rachida Dati is to go on trial Wednesday on corruption charges linked to dealings with the Renault-Nissan group, just months after her bruising defeat in the Paris mayoral race.

One of the most prominent figures on the French right, Dati, 60, will stand trial with the fugitive Carlos Ghosn, the disgraced former Renault-Nissan chief, who will be tried in absentia.

Dati has been dogged by controversies for much of her political career.

She resigned as culture minister in February to concentrate on the Paris mayoral race, but lost to Socialist rival Emmanuel Gregoire in March.

In 2019, she was placed under investigation on suspicion of lobbying for Renault-Nissan between October 2009 and February 2013 when she was a member of the European parliament.

She became an MEP after serving as justice minister between 2007 and 2009 under President Nicolas Sarkozy.

In 2021, she was charged with corruption and influence peddling over her dealings with Ghosn.

She is accused of accepting 900,000 euros (around $1 million) in lawyer's fees from a Netherlands-based subsidiary of Renault-Nissan.

Dati, who is still mayor of the French capital's wealthy 7th district, denies the allegations.

She faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 450,000 euros, if convicted. She could also face a five-year ban on holding public office.

Her legal team said Dati worked "exclusively" as a lawyer for the Netherlands-based subsidiary.

"Unfounded allegations of influence peddling in the European Parliament stem from an artificial intellectual construct devised by the prosecution," her lawyers said.

French prosecutors argue that a legal services contract signed in 2009 between Dati and Ghosn, under which the former minister was paid an annual fee of 300,000 euros, was used to disguise lobbying work.

Investigators obtained the contract in 2019 during a search of Renault's headquarters following Ghosn's arrest in Japan, in a separate case.

Ghosn, the 72-year-old former chairman and chief executive of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, was arrested in Japan in 2018 on suspicion of financial misconduct, before being sacked by Nissan's board.

He made a dramatic escape from Japan hidden in an audio-equipment box, landing in Beirut, where he remains as a fugitive.

Ghosn faces a litany of charges, including abuse of power and bribery.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

In a letter sent to the court in August and seen by AFP, Ghosn requested that the proceedings be postponed.

Denying any attempt to "delay the trial," Ghosn said he was prepared to appear by video link to "explain facts" that he disputes.

Dati has repeatedly sought to have the charges against her quashed.

She has also been accused of accepting nearly 300,000 euros in undeclared payments from energy group GDF Suez, also while an MEP.

Prosecutors said last year they were looking into reports Dati failed to declare jewellery and watches worth 420,000 euros upon taking ministerial office.

She has denied any wrongdoing.