Liliane Bettencourt is at the center of several ongoing cases . The French government has been investigating whether she misused public funds to finance her lavish lifestyle. Her former bookkeeper , Claire Thibout , told police she received envelopes of cash that were to be given to Sarkozy and French Labor Minister Eric Woerth , who previously worked in the Budget Ministry and was in charge of reforms to France 's retirement system . One case involves alleged secret payments to politicians .
Liliane Bettencourt is at the center of several ongoing cases . The French government has been investigating whether she misused public funds to finance her lavish lifestyle. One case involves alleged secret payments to politicians .