French authorities charge boss of breast implant firm
French authorities have filed preliminary charges against the former head of a now-defunct company embroiled in a scandal over possibly faulty breast implants affecting thousands of women.
A lawyer for Jean-Claude Mas said a judge in the city of Marseille placed the Poly Implant Prothese company founder under investigation for “involuntary injury”.
Mas, who was arrested on Thursday, was released on €100,000 bail.
Defence lawyer Yves Haddad also said that an investigating magistrate has ordered Mas, 72, to stay in France and not meet any other former PIP executives.
The preliminary charges mean investigating magistrates have strong reason to believe a crime was committed but gives them more time to probe to decide whether to recommend it goes to trial.
