A major company in France is facing unusual criminal charges. After a lengthy inquiry into a wave of suicides at France Telecom (now Orange) the Paris prosecutor has recommended that its former chief executive and other key figures be put on trial for bullying.
At least 19 people are known to taken their lives in 2008 and 2009 as the company cut thousands of jobs. Judicial sources say the company and ex-boss Didier Lombard are suspected of using a policy of unsettling staff to speed up job losses.
