A scandal broke out in a new official close to French President Emmanuel Macaron, as the media reported that the driver’s personal driver had fled the police after exceeding the speed limit.

The French media website Mediapart revealed that the accident took place earlier this year. Behind the wheel of a car belonging to the Elysee Palace, on his way to Versailles Palace near Paris.

Traffic police officers in a suburb of the capital noted that the car was overstretched, but the driver refused to stand up and fled the scene.

But the officers spotted the car number and were followed up to the presidential palace. The driver was identified in February.

According to the report, the driver at the moment of the accident was not on an official mission, and was relieved of the job of the driver of the President, but he got a new job at the Elysee Palace after a suspension of 20 days.

The website said a lawsuit had been filed against the driver and his trial was due to begin in January next year and faces up to three months’ imprisonment and a fine of 3,750 euros.