Orange chief Richard detained in Tapie payout case

The French mobile giant Orange was rocked yesterday after its chief executive, Stéphane Richard, was held for questioning by judicial authorities over his past role as a senior adviser in the government of the former president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mr Richard faces questions about a decision to award the businessman Bernard Tapie €285m (£242m) in a legal settlement in 2008. Mr Richard has denied any wrongdoing.