France, June 7 -- A former police commissioner and two former officers are among those being tried over a scheme to grant residency in Monaco to a wealthy Belgian businessman and his relatives.

The trial got under way this week in the city-state's criminal court.

At the heart of the affair is Pierre Salik, a Belgian textile magnate who, along with around 15 family members, secured residency in Monaco - a status highly prized for its generous tax perks.

Monegasque residents - estimated at around 30,000 in number- are mostly exempt from income tax, with French and American citizens the only exceptions to this.

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