The French press had reported the suspected embezzlement of public money by the two ministers.

In 1992, Collor resigned, under threat of impeachment for his alleged embezzlement of public money.

The petition cited a number of grounds, among them a state constitutional provision that bars anyone "convicted of embezzlement of public money" from holding office.

All felonies, other than murder and the embezzlement of public money, or the falsification of public records, must be prosecuted within three years after the crime has been committed."

Last autumn, a zealous policeman from Marseilles wrote a best-selling exposé of Socialist involvement in a huge embezzlement of public money in south-east France.

Dixon earned high praise from his superiors for his innovations, but their opinion of him was to change rapidly in April 1859 when he was stood down on admission of the embezzlement of public money.