Investigating judges filed preliminary charges today against Jerome Kerviel, the bank trader accused in a €4.9bn fraud case against Societe Generale, France’s second-largest bank, his lawyer said.

French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel is expected to be freed on bail when he appears in court today as part of the initial criminal investigation into his €4.9bn fraud.

Societe Generale told how its rogue trader evaded controls to bet €50bn – more than the French bank’s market worth – on European markets.

Far-right extremists were suspected of sending a parcel bomb that killed a secretary in a Paris lawyers’ office today.