Just punishing the small fry

With the sentence handed down to former trader Jérôme Kerviel one of France's most important business trials ended on Tuesday. The left-liberal daily Libération looks at the symbolic value of the judgement: "Kerviel a scapegoat? In principle the comparison doesn't hold water. In its Biblical sense the scapegoat is innocent. It carries with it the sins of Israel, but it didn't commit them. ... Kerviel carries with him all the sins of the banks, only he is guilty. ... But over and above this legal clarification, what a symbol! ... One small fry of the financial world will almost single-handedly bear the blame of the creators of the casino economy. ...  After this judgement ... Kerviel faces no more than a dismal, needy existence. Those responsible for the global financial catastrophe, by contrast, even if they've lost their jobs ... will end their days in huge villas sitting on stacks of gold."

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