France's Former President Sarkozy Taken Into Custody

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/24546-frances-former-president-sarkozy-taken-into-custody

Just two years after leaving the presidency, former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy turned himself in to police this morning as part of an inquiry into a cover-up of suspected illegal campaign fundraising. Sarkozy, 59, is reportedly France's first former president to be taken into formal custody.

From Paris, NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports:

"Sarkozy is being questioned over his behavior during a probe of possible illegal financing for his 2007 campaign from France's richest woman, L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

"The case centers around whether Sarkozy and his lawyer were kept informed of insider information on the investigation by a friendly magistrate — who was in return promised a prominent position in Monaco.

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. The guardian has the story too

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was put under official investigation for corruption and misuse of influence late on Tuesday after 15 hours in police custody.

Sarkozy was "mis en examen" in a Paris court on allegations that he directly or indirectly used his power in an attempt to find out information about legal proceedings against him.

The respected French financial publication Les Echos described it as a "spectacular measure" that comes as the former leader is planning his political comeback.

Sarkozy's lawyer, Thierry Herzog, and a French magistrate are also now under official investigation. The two accusations carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison.

After questioning Sarkozy on Tuesday at the police headquarters in Nanterre on the outskirts of Paris, the investigating magistrates heading the corruption inquiry decided there was enough evidence to put the former leader under official investigation.

There is no exact equivalent of "mis en examen" or putting under formal investigation in British or US legal systems; the nearest is being charged or arraigned. Only an investigating judge can decide to put a suspect under formal investigation, and only if he or she finds "serious and concordant" suggestions of law-breaking


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/02/nicolas-sarkozy-faces-criminal-charge-after-being-placed-under-investigation

[MisterP]

2. "I thought Mr. Roarke wore all white?" nt