Mr Sarkozy is being held at Nanterre, near Paris, in an unprecedented step
against a former president.
Mr Sarkozy is being questioned about whether he sought inside information
from a judge concerning an investigation into campaign funding. The latest developments are seen as a blow to Mr Sarkozy's attempts to
challenge for the presidency in 2017.
Investigators are trying to find out whether Mr Sarkozy, 59, who was
president from 2007 to 2012, had promised a prestigious role in Monaco to a
high-ranking judge, Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for information about an
investigation into alleged illegal campaign funding.
They are looking into claims that Mr Sarkozy was warned his phone was being
bugged as part of the funding probe.
Mr Azibert, one of the most senior judges at the court of appeal, was called
in for questioning on Monday. Another judge, Patrick Sassoust, was also
questioned, as was Mr Sarkozy's lawyer Thierry Herzog. This is thought to be the first time a French former head of state has been
held in police custody.
His predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was given a suspended prison sentence in
2011 for embezzlement and breach of trust while he was mayor of Paris. But he
was never questioned in custody.
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Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was put under official investigation for corruption and misuse of influence in the early hours of Wednesday after 15 hours in police custody.
Sarkozy was "mis en examen" in a Paris court on allegations that he used 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.
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