Mitterrand son guilty of tax fraud

Mitterrand was a close adviser to his father on African affairs

The son of ex-French President Francois Mitterrand has received a suspended 30-month jail sentence for tax evasion.

Jean-Christophe Mitterrand was found guilty of failing to pay about 600,000 euros (£400,000,$800,000) in tax.

In his defence, he said his main home was in Mauritania, where he pays taxes. But he failed to provide evidence that he spent enough time there.

He was a close adviser on African affairs to his late father, who was president from 1981 till 1995.

The Paris court said Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, who was not in court for the ruling, had failed to declare revenues of 1.25m euros in 1998 and 1999, on which he would have had to pay tax of 630,000 euros.

The prosecution had demanded a prison sentence and a fine as well as payment in full of the money owed.

His lawyer has said he would lodge an appeal, French radio reports.

Mitterrand's trial was postponed twice after lawyers said he was suffering from psychological problems, AFP news agency reports.

He had been treated in hospital for a sleep disorder and gave evidence in court from a chair, AFP says.