Sarkozy fights back in face of corruption charges

July 03, 2014 01:45

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy has accused the French justice system of trying to "destroy" him, after he was charged in a corruption probe.

The former conservative party leader fought back today in a broadcast interview after he was questioned over a highly publicised judicial investigation linked to allegations that he took $67 million in illegal campaign funds from Libya's Moammar Gadhafi.

The detention a very unusual move for such a high-level figure has dominated French news broadcasts, and comes as a possible political comeback by the hard-driving 59-year-old has been floated by his faltering UMP party.

Sarkozy, who spent nearly a day in custody yesterday answering questions on his 2007 presidential campaign, told TF1 TV and Europe-1 radio he was "profoundly shocked" over his 16-hour detention.

"Is it normal that I should be in custody for so long?" Sarkozy asked, squinting intensely at an interviewer. He said his detention was motivated out of "a desire to humiliate me."

"A part of the justice system is being used for political purposes," he said.

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