IMF's Lagarde should face trial in Tapie case: prosecutor

IMF chief Christine Lagarde should stand trial for her handling of a massive state payout to tycoon Bernard Tapie when she was France's finance minister, a French prosecutor said today.

The prosecutor recommended the rejection of a challenge by Lagarde to a December court order for her to stand trial for negligence in the affair, which saw Tapie receive 404 million euros (USD 433 million) in taxpayer money.

The ruling is expected on July 22.