Head of Paris judicial police given preliminary charges over internal affairs probe of leaks

PARIS – The Paris prosecutor has filed preliminary legal charges against the head of the city's investigative police over an internal probe of leaks.

Bernard Petit, the head of the Paris judicial police, has been accused of violating secrecy rules and releasing information that could thwart an official investigation. Three other Interior Ministry officials were also facing possible preliminary charges.

The case centers on an internal affairs probe of suspicions that one or more officers tipped off another police official about a corruption probe ensnaring him months ago.

The interior minister said Friday that Petit was immediately suspended and recommended a replacement to President Francois Hollande.

The case has shaken police at a time when investigators are poring through reams of evidence in the probe of the Paris terror attacks last month.