French ex-President Sarkozy 'held' over influence claims

[T_i_B]

Source: BBC

French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained for questioning over alleged influence peddling, legal sources say.

The decision to detain him at Nanterre, near Paris, is an unprecedented step against a former president.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28103223

[William769]

1. Locking. Duplicate.

Please continue the discussion here. http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014837550

[William769]

2. This was locked by mistake and I take responsibility for that and I truly apologize.

This is my kick to bring your OP back to the top.

Once again, my sincere apologies.

[T_i_B]

4. Don't worry

I'm more surprised that this story has received so little interest from others on here to be honest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28122473

Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation over alleged influence peddling.

He appeared before a judge in Paris late on Tuesday after 15 hours of questioning by anti-corruption police.

This is thought to be the first time a former French head of state has been held in police custody.

Mr Sarkozy's lawyer, Thierry Herzog, and a magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, were also placed under formal investigation over the same allegations. Influence-peddling can be punished by up to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros (£400,000; $684,000).

[maddezmom]

3. NYT: French Ex-Leader Questioned in Graft Inquiry, Threatening Comeback Hopes

-snip-
The authorities are trying to establish whether Mr. Sarkozy, with the help of his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, tried to obtain information from a well-placed judge, Gilbert Azibert, about investigations ensnaring the former president, including an inquiry into the financing of his 2007 election campaign.

They are also reportedly investigating whether Mr. Sarkozy, Mr. Herzog and Judge Azibert plotted to reward the judge’s help in the case with a post in Monte Carlo. Mr. Sarkozy was detained a day after investigators questioned Mr. Herzog and two judges, including Judge Azibert.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/world/europe/french-ex-president-sarkozy-said-to-be-held-for-questioning.html?_r=0

[DeSwiss]

5. Now they need to do the ''good cop/bad cop'' routine and squeeze him for info.....

...there's no telling what former president he might give up.

- I can still dream can't I?

K&R

[center][/center]

[YoungDemCA]

6. NYT: Sarkozy Placed Under Formal Investigation in Corruption Case

PARIS — Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France who is trying to revive his political fortunes, was put under formal investigation on Wednesday, a senior member of his conservative party said, in a corruption and influence-peddling case that threatens to upend his political ambitions.

François Fillon, a former prime minister and a member of Mr. Sarkozy’s right-leaning Union for a Popular Movement party, confirmed on his blog that Mr. Sarkozy had been put under formal investigation. “Nicolas Sarkozy is presumed innocent,” he wrote.

The decision to open a formal investigation suggests that investigators believe they have enough evidence against the former president to link him to a crime, legal experts said. Under the French criminal justice system, a formal investigation is led by an investigating judge and can take months.

If the investigative judge in Mr. Sarkozy’s case determines that there is sufficient evidence to charge him, the former president could face trial for influence-peddling and abuse of power, or the case could be dropped.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/03/world/europe/sarkozy.html