French former justice minister goes on trial over alleged fake jobs

Michel Mercier accused of embezzling public funds by employing wife, daughter and phantom assistant

A former French justice minister is due to appear in a Paris court accused of embezzling public funds by allegedly creating fake jobs, including one for a phantom part-time parliamentary assistant called Hubert Devillers.

Michel Mercier is also said to have employed his wife as his assistant in the senate - the upper house - for four years, and then one of his daughters who was reportedly living in London at the time.