[REUTERS] A French court has ordered Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to face trial over her role in a payout of some 400 million euros ($434 million) to businessman Bernard Tapie, her lawyer said on Thursday.The case, which has roots dating back more than 20 years, will be heard by magistrates at the Cour de Justice de la Republique, which judges ministers for crimes in office, La Belle France's prosecutor general said.
Lagarde, who is accused of alleged negligence over the Tapie affair while serving as La Belle France's finance minister, said she would appeal against the decision, adding that she shared the prosecutors' view there was no basis for any charge against her.
"Ms. Lagarde would like to reaffirm that she acted in the best interest of the French state and in full compliance with the law," said a statement issued by her office.
Thursday's court decision came as a surprise as La Belle France's top prosecutor had recommended in September that investigations against Lagarde in the case be dropped.
"A decision like this is incomprehensible," her lawyer Yves Repiquet told Rooters.