Chief executive officer of French oil group Total SA has been detained by police for questioning in an investigation into alleged corruption in Iran, a French judicial source said today.
Christophe de Margerie, who only moved up to the CEO's chair at Total last month, has been under investigation for several months by French judges probing corruption allegations linked to the Iraqi oil-for-food programme and a gas project in Iran.
"I would like to underline it's just an inquiry and there has been no outcome. I am calmly waiting for that," Mr de Margerie told a news conference on Total's 2006 results on February 14th, a day after he was confirmed in his new post.
Total shares in Paris were down 0.3 per cent at €49.69 earlier, while the DJ Stoxx European oil and gas sector index was down 0.1 per cent.