France's Sarkozy formally probed over 2012 campaign funding

February 17, 2016 02:04

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was placed under formal investigation Tuesday over alleged illegal campaign funding in 2012, prosecutors said.

Sarkozy, who is manoeuvring for another run at the presidency in 2017, was questioned during the day over allegations of false accounting that allowed him to greatly exceed spending limits.

The head of conservative The Republicans party is being formally probed over "illegal election campaign funding by having, as a candidate, exceeded the legal limit for electoral expenses," said a statement by Paris prosecutors.

He was also designated as an "assisted witness" in connection with "accusations of using false documents, fraud and breach of trust," it added.

The case against Sarkozy has hinged on the activity of PR firm Bygmalion, which organised some of Sarkozy's appearances during his failed election campaign four years ago and is accused of using a vast system of false accounting.

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