Former France's President Jacques Chirac sits in his car as he leaves his office in Paris September 6, 2011. A French court decided on Monday to proceed with the trial of former president Chirac for misuse of public funds without him being present, after a neurologist found that his memory was too frail. Chirac, president from 1995 to 2007 and fondly regarded by many in France, is accused of embezzling public money to fund his political party via phantom jobs at Paris Town Hall during his long stint as mayor between 1977 and 1995. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)