(AFP) French investigators on Tuesday searched the homes of a journalist and a former senior official over allegations of embezzlement from a fund set up in memory of a teacher beheaded by an Islamist radical.
The controversy is casting a shadow over Marlene Schiappa, minister for the social economy and associations and a high-profile figure in President Emmanuel Macron’s government, who set up the fund.
Schiappa had not been targeted by any investigative action.
A Senate committee confirmed the raid on the home of Mohamed Sifaoui, co-chief of an association that received payouts from the “Marianne Fund” anti-extremism campaign.
A source close to the probe said investigators were also at the home of Christian Gravel, the former head of a government anti-radicalisation committee that was tasked with managing the fund.
