PARIS – Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is being held in policecustody in connection to alleged campaign funding from the late Libyandictator, Muammar Gaddafi.
Mr Sarkozy is being questioned by police in connection to the investigationinto “irregularities” in election campaign financing, a French court sourcetold Reuters.
He is said to have accepted €50m from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, claimswhich have been repeated by the late Libyan dictator’s son and Frenchbusinessman Ziad Takieddine.The amount would be more than double the legal spending limit in Frenchelections at that time, which was €21m.
Alleged payments would also violate French laws on foreign financing anddeclaring the source of campaign funds.
Mr Sarkozy and his campaign manager have repeatedly denied accepting moneyfrom Libya.
According to Le Monde, this is the first time Mr Sarkozy has beenquestioned in relation to this investigation, which was opened in April2013.
He can be held for up to 48 hours and presented to Magistrates Court forindictment straight away if police seek charges.
Mr Sarkozy has already been ordered to stand trial in a separate case,concerning the financing of his failed 2012 re-election campaign, when helost to Francois Hollande.
In March 2011, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the late dictator’s son, toldEuronews: “Sarkozy has to give back the money he accepted from Libya tofinance his electoral campaign. We financed his campaign and we have theproof…
“The first thing we’re demanding is that this clown gives back the money tothe Libyan people.”
Mr Takieddine claims he delivered three suitcases stuffed with cash toParis between 2006 and 2007, and handed them over to Mr Sarkozy in theInterior Ministry when he was a minister.Mr Sarkozy was president of France from 2007 until 2012.
He attempted to stage a comeback for the 2017 election, but failed toconvince the voters in his own party to support him and had to concede toFrancois Fillon and Alain Juppe.