Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy held for questioning over corruption claims

Nicolas Sarkozy is being questioned over suspected 'influence-peddling'.

By Dave Lancaster |

17:31 01 July 2014

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been held for questioning in relation to allegations of political corruption. 

 

A legal source confirmed to Reuters that "Mr Sarkozy has been summoned to Nanterre and is being held for questioning"

 

According to the BBC, Sarkozy is being probed to see if he was willing to secure a "prestigious role in Monaco to a high-ranking judge, Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for information about an investigation into alleged illegal campaign funding."

 

In March 2013, the former leader was placed under formal investigation over his apparent acceptance of envelopes loaded with cash. 

 

Allegedly the elderly Liliane Bettencourt was illegally financing his 2007 election campaign. However, Bettencourt, 91, was declared to have dementia in 2006 and she was placed under the guardianship of her family in 2011. 

 

A statement said he had been placed under investigation "for taking advantage of a vulnerable person in February 2007 and during 2007 to the detriment of Liliane Bettencourt".

 

Sarkozy's immunity was lost after he beaten in the 2012 presidential election by Socialist Francois Hollande.

 

These new developments are thought to represent the first time that a French former head of state has been detained in police custody. His predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was handed a suspended prison sentence in 2011 for embezzlement during his time as mayor of Paris but he was never actually in custody.