Ex French Rugby international in dock over unemployment benefit fraud

Prosecutors have called for former France international Thomas Lombard to be jailed for six-months and fined 15,000 euros ($17,700) for claiming unemployment benefit whilst also working as a television pundit.

Prosecutors in Versailles asked a judge Monday to punish the 42-year-old who as a player won the French Top 14 title four times for defrauding the French social security system.

The judge will now hear the case for the defence before handing down a judgement.

The prosecution allege Lombard earned 130,000 euros from French social security between December 2008 and November 2010 whilst also working for French TV station Canal+.

The prosecution assert that Lombard was eligible for the unemployment benefit, but believe he hid his role as a tv pundit.

The player, who won French top flight titles as a centre with Stade Francais in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004, insists the matter is an oversight.

The prosecutor has also asked for a 150,000 euros fine for the television company for breaches in French employment laws, saying the ex-player should have been on a full time contract and not paid by the day.

Source: AFP