French chefs stand trial for corruption in seafood scandal

THIRTY-four of Paris's top chefs have gone on trial charged with accepting more than £500,000 in bribes in a massive seafood fraud.

The cooks, many of them with Michelin stars, are accused of taking illegal backhanders from a French fish wholesaler to ensure their loyalty.

The chefs, including Guy Legay of Mohammed Al Fayed's Ritz hotel, Philippe Renard of the Lutétia hotel, Christian Constant of the Crillon hotel, Manuel Martinez of the Tour d'Argent restaurant and Marcel Le Faou of the Quai d'Orsay, have all appeared in the dock in Creteil, near Paris.

They are charged with taking bribes between 1990 and 1996 from Scotfish (which has no links with Scotland) instead of seeking potentially cheaper fish elsewhere. Three managers of Scotfish are also charged with corruption.

Last year fraud squad officers were tipped off over suspect invoices at Scotfish's offices in Rungis, south of Paris.

Scotfish lawyer Guy Nicolas said: "There was nothing really illegal going on. Scotfish just wanted to keep customers loyal."

Ritz chef Legay said: "All my orders were above board."

Crillon's chef Constant added: "It was all legal. We bought good fish at decent prices, like we were supposed to do."

If convicted, the chefs and Scotfish bosses face heavy fines and suspended prison terms.

The trial is expected to end next week. by Ian Sparks