Former French health minister charged with ‘putting the lives of others at risk’

By Alaattin Dogru

PARIS (AA) - France's former health minister was indicted on Friday for “putting the lives of others at risk,” during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Le Monde newspaper.

Agnes Buzyn is accused by prosecutors from France's Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) as part of their investigations into the management of the health crisis by the government.

It came hours after she was interviewed by prosecutors.

Buzyn was the health minister when the pandemic erupted. She left her post in February 2020.

Searches were conducted Oct.15 at the homes of several top government officials as part of the investigation, including Health Minister Olivier Veran, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Buzyn.

The searches occurred as part of a judicial investigation that was opened July 3 by the CJR, looking into the oversight of the COVID-19 crisis. The charges include "abstaining from fighting a disaster" in accordance with the law.

The General Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation opened a judicial investigation July 7 through the investigative committee of the CJR to determine whether the ministers may have committed criminal offenses in their management of the crisis.

The CJR initially received 90 complaints against the ministers, nine of which were sufficient to open an investigation.

The CJR is the only governmental body empowered to judge acts committed by officials in carrying out their duties.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.