PARIS, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A current and former executive at the French oil firm Total is being investigated for roles in the U.N. oil for food scandal in Iraq.
A French judge has ordered an investigation of Christophe de Margerie, head of Total's exploration and production, and Bernard de Combret, a former Total official, the BBC reports.
The two are accused of paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein for oil deals, in violation of U.N. sanctions restricting Iraq's oil industry.
Margerie's lawyer called the investigation "groundless" and the company said he has its "total support."
The company, in a statement, said "at no time did the group circumvent the U.N. embargo against Iraq," adding it "strictly adhered to the rules of the oil-for-food program.
"The group has never purchased, either directly or indirectly, oil that has been smuggled illegally from Iraq."
