English Translation
He was charged with fraud.
I was looking up the difference between impliqué and inculpé and asked Gemini, and it said:
If you are talking about the legal system in France today, the official phrase that replaced “inculpé” is:
1. The Official Legal Term (France)
Il a été mis en examen pour fraude. (He was placed under formal investigation for fraud.)
- Why: “Inculpé” was removed from the French penal code in 1993. It was considered too harsh because it sounded like the person was already guilty (coupable). “Mise en examen” is the current term used by judges and the media when someone is formally charged and the investigation is ongoing.
2. The General / Media Term
If you aren’t a lawyer and just want to say he is facing charges:
Il est accusé de fraude. (He is accused of fraud.)
Il est poursuivi pour fraude. (He is being prosecuted for fraud.)
3. Usage Note for Other Countries
If you are in Canada (Quebec) or Belgium, or reading older French literature:
- "Il a été inculpé de fraude" is still perfectly correct and widely used in those regions.