French ex-mayor found dead in suspected suicide before trial on alleged Chinese wedding scam
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In this photo dated Oct. 2008, Tours mayor, Jean Germain, center, wearing a sash in the colors of the French flag, poses with a group of recently married Chinese couples in front of the city hall in Tours, France. Jean Germain the former mayor of Tours has been found dead in a suspected suicide right as he was to go on trial over suspected kickbacks involving a spate of group weddings of Chinese visitors in the picturesque Loire Valley city. A defense lawyer said a half-dozen people are on trial over alleged kickbacks linked to euro750,000 ($815,000) that the city spent from 2008 to 2011 to lure Asian visitors _ some for weddings presided over by Germain while he was mayor. (AP Photo/Patrice Deschamps, la Nouvelle Republique) FRANCE OUT (The Associated Press)
A former mayor of Tours has been found dead in a suspected suicide right as he was to go on trial over suspected kickbacks involving Chinese group weddings in the picturesque Loire Valley city.
Officials say Jean Germain, a Socialist senator, was found dead after failing to turn up for the start of Tuesday's trial.
A defense lawyer said a half-dozen people are on trial over alleged kickbacks linked to €750,000 ($815,000) that the city spent from 2008 to 2011 to lure Asian visitors. Some of the weddings were presided over by Germain while he was mayor.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Defense lawyer Dominique Tricaud told The Associated Press that Germain had suffered through the legal ordeal.
France's political class was in shock, and President Francois Hollande expressed sadness.