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French prosecutor opens probe into Marine Le Pen's wealth

Investigation is into claims that far-right Front National leader and her father Jean-Marie Le Pen misrepresented extent of their wealth.

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The French financial prosecutor's office announced on Thursday it had launched a preliminary investigation into far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her father Jean-Marie Le Pen on suspicions that they misrepresented their wealth, reports Reuters.

A French body in charge of transparency in public life lodged a case in December against the Le Pens, saying they may had underestimated their wealth held in common in 2014.

Marine Le Pen appealed to the State Council, France's highest administrative body, but the appeal was rejected.

"After analysis, the national financial prosecutor decided today to launch a preliminary investigation," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

It said the probe had initially targeted Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Read more of this report from Reuters.