Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained for questioning over allegations of misusing his influence.
Sarkozy is alleged to have offered High Court of Appeal judge Gilbert Azibert a prestigious role in Monaco in return for providing him inside information on how the proceedings against him for alleged illegal campaign finance in the 2007 election were proceeding.
Azibert was also called in for questioning on Monday.
Sarkozy supporters have called the revelations and questioning ‘politically motivated harrassment’, while others see the police investigation as bringing the political elite to justice.
This is not the first time that a former French president has been investigated by police for alleged corruption, with Jacque Chirac convicted of embezzlement and breach of trust in 2011.
