PARIS, March 23, 2007 (AFP) - Fifteen former workers at the Eiffel Tower, the world's most most visited monument, got suspended jail sentences and fines Friday for embezzling hundreds of thousands of euros from ticket  sales.

The 12 women and three men were found guilty of breach of trust for taking advantage of weaknesses in the ticket office's computer system to steal part of the sales revenues from 1996 to 2002.

They were handed suspended sentences ragning from three months to one year and fines of between 2,000 et 10,000 euros.

They were also ordered to pay 700,000 euros (940,000 dollars) to the company that manages the Eiffel Tower, a sum corresponding to the amount they embezzled.

The company uncovered the scam in February 2002 after receiving an anonymous letter from an employee. An investigation led to charges against 15 of the 27 employees working at the ticket office.

Visitors to the Eiffel Tower, the tallest structure in central Paris, pay up to 11.50 euros to ride one of the elevators to the top.

Some six million people visit the tower every year.

Copright AFP

Subject: French news