Dumas's ex-lover was also convicted

But the 79-year-old, who is appealing against his conviction, was back in the role he is more accustomed to - defending a suspected armed robber in the city of Orleans.

Visibly aged, he arrived at the courthouse in Orleans in his black lawyer's robes, pleading not his own innocence, but that of a young man from Yugoslavia, accused of robbing a bank.

Although Mr Dumas was sentenced in May to six months in prison, he is appealing against his conviction.

Cynicism

Under French law he remains at liberty to practise his profession.

His conviction earlier this year, together with his ex-lover and a number of former senior officials at the Elf oil company, came at the end of one of the highest profile corruption cases in recent French history.

The sentencing of a close confidant of former President Francois Mitterrand was seen by many as a sign that France was becoming tougher in its dealings with official corruption.

However, since his trial ended the mood has changed, partly because a number of corruption investigations, including those involving the French President, Jacques Chirac, have collapsed.

And the sight of Mr Dumas arriving in court as a lawyer will confirm the widespread cynicism in France about the extent to which things have really changed.