'I was designated (as solely responsible) by Societe Generale. I accept my share of responsibility but I will not be made a scapegoat for Societe Generale,' he said, in his first interview since the scandal broke last month.

Wearing jeans and a white checkered shirt, the 31-year-old - who was propelled to worldwide notoriety overnight by his role in the biggest rogue trade scandal in history - gave the interview at his lawyer's Paris offices.

Kerviel refused to discuss the details of the affair, saying he was 'saving his statement for the judges'.

Societe Generale accuses Kerviel of causing it losses of 4.8 billion euros (S$10.2 billion), by placing more than 50 billion euros in unauthorised futures trades, discovered on January 20.

He was charged last week with breach of trust, using false documents and unauthorised computer access, although judges did not approve the more serious charge of fraud.

Societe Generale maintains that Kerviel managed to circumvent internal controls by using stolen computer access codes and fictitious documents.

Kerviel admitted during questioning to falsifying company emails to cover his tracks after he started making unauthorised deals in 2005.

But he also told investigators the bank must have known what he was doing because of the profits he had generated previously, and suggested his bosses turned a blind eye as long as he was not in the red.

The trader, who lives in the chic Paris suburb of Neuilly, has been released from custody but kept under judicial supervision with round-the-clock police protection during the investigation.

Prosecutors appealed the decision to release him, with a ruling due Friday.

According to a judicial source, he was questioned again for eight hours on Monday by judges who asked him about his working conditions at the Societe Generale trading desk, which he joined in 2005. -- AFP