Charges Sought in Societe Generale Fraud

[January 28, 2008]  PARIS (AP) -- A Paris prosecutor on Monday asked for preliminary charges of forgery, breach of trust and fraud to be filed against a trader accused by Societe Generale bank of causing what could be history's largest trading fraud by a single person.

Prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin for the first time said that the trader, 31-year-old Jerome Kerviel, did not seek personal profit but wanted to be "an exceptional trader."

"The investigation shows very clearly at the moment that Monsieur Kerviel acted alone and the investigation has not demonstrated any complicity," Marin told reporters.

Kerviel, who has been in police custody since Saturday, fully cooperated with investigator and admitted "a certain number of acts," he added.

[Associated Press; ELAINE GANLEY]

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