Paris judicial police chief facing charges over leak probe.

PARIS.

The  Paris prosecutor says  authorities have
filed preliminary legal charges against the head
of the city 's investigative police  over an internal
probe of leaks.

The interior minister said Friday that Bernard Petit
was immediately suspended as head of the Paris
judicial police,and recommended a replacement to
President Francois Hollande.

Petit has been   accused  of violating secrecy rules
and releasing information that could thwart an
official investigation .Three other Interior officials
were also facing possible preliminary charges.

The case centers on an internal affairs probe of
suspicions that one or more officers tipped off
 another police official about a corruption probe
ensnaring him months ago.

The case has  shaken police   a time when
investigators are poring through reams of evidence
in the probe of  last month's terror attacks'
AP>