Official: Prosecutors ask court to drop corruption case against Chirac, others

French prosecutors want to drop case versus Chirac

PARIS — A French judicial official says prosecutors have asked a court to drop a case against former President Jacques Chirac and others accused of roles in a corruption scandal dating back to his 1977-1995 tenure as Paris mayor.

The official says the request from the Paris prosecutor’s office has been delivered to investigating judge Xaviere Simeoni. The official spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the case is ongoing.

The judge must now decide whether to follow the advice.

A judge filed preliminary embezzlement charges against Chirac in 2007, after he left the presidency and no longer had judicial immunity.

Investigators have been looking into suspected misuse of public money and other alleged wrongdoing during his time as mayor of Paris.