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Jean Germain, 67, who had been mayor of Tours from 1995 to 2014 and was also a serving Socialist senator, was voted out of office in the wake of the scandal.
Co-accused Lise Han, a Taiwanese businesswoman employed by the city to promote “relationships with China”, allegedly used her position to make tens of thousands of euros for herself. She is accused of fraud, collusion and mishandling public funds.
Han was the brainchild behind schemes that included inviting groups of Chinese newly-weds to visit Tours and the surrounding Loire Valley, and “remarry” in fake ceremonies presided over by Germain. The fake weddings took place between 2007 and 2011.
While the fake ceremonies were not illegal, Han, who was a full-time employee of Tours city hall, is accused of enriching herself at the local taxpayer’s expense by continuing to run firm Time-Lotus Bleu, subcontracted to the city to organise the tours.
President Francois Hollande expressed his sadness, saying Germain had taken his own life "because he didn't want his honor sullied" .
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