Lagarde faces investigation into abuse of office

PARIS (RIA Novosti)- A French court ordered a probe on Thursday into Christine Lagarde, the current International Monetary Fund chief, over her involvement in a possible corruption scheme when she was the French finance minister, BFM TV reported.

Lagarde will be investigated for approving a 285-million-euro payout to businessman Bernard Tapie, a friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a 2008 settlement on his claim to a state-owned bank.

Lagarde, who replaced Dominique Strauss-Kahn as IMF managing director in July, has denied any wrongdoing.

She said she would not resign as IMF managing director.