LUXEMBOURG: An EU court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal brought by Jean-Marie Le Pen’s heirs against a European Parliament decision demanding repayment for about 300,000 euros ($348,000) the late French far-right leader unduly claimed in expenses.

Last year, the EU parliament accused Le Pen of having improperly invoiced as parliamentary expenses money he had spent on personal matters.

A report by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) found that between 2009 and 2018 Le Pen unduly invoiced items including umbrellas, kitchen scales, desk clocks, smart watches, virtual reality glasses, and 129 wine bottles.

Le Pen appealed and after his death earlier this year the proceedings were taken up by his daughter Marine, who leads France’s National Rally party, and her siblings.

“The General Court dismisses the action brought by Mr Le Pen and his heirs,” the court, the lower chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union, said in a statement.

“The procedure which led the Parliament to adopt the recovery decision and to issue the debit note is not contrary to the principles of legal certainty and the protection of legitimate expectations.”

The ruling can be appealed.

The money involved was incorrectly claimed by Le Pen under the so-called “budget item 400” which is mainly intended to cover European lawmakers’ office rental and equipment costs.

Parliament subsequently demanded Le Pen repay 303,201 euros.

The firebrand politician, an extreme right-winger who haunted the French political establishment for decades, died aged 96 in January.