Rogue trader Jerome Kerviel, facing prison on his return to France, announced Saturday that he would be staying in Italy for the time being.
Former trader Jerome Kerviel smokes a cigarette near the French border on May 17, 2014 outside Vintimille (Ventimiglia)
The former Societe General dealer who brought one of Europe's biggest banks to the brink of bankruptcy said he would not cross the border into his homeland until he had received a response to his request for French President Francois Hollande to grant immunity to potential witnesses who could testify in his favour in connection with the bank's near collapse.
"I will wait for Francois Hollande's response on the Italian side," Kerviel said just yards (metres) from the French-Italian border near the Riviera town of Menton. "If they want to come and get me, let them come."