Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation by magistrates in Paris on suspicion of influence peddling and other crimes related to his 2007 election campaign.<br /><br />This is the first time that a French head of state has been held in police custody.<br /><br />Under French law, being placed under formal investigation means there exists “serious or consistent evidence” pointing to probable implication of a suspect in a crime.<br /><br />Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, and a judge Gilbert Azibert are also under formal investigation.<br /><br />The inquiry began when judges looked into claims that the former President of France from 2007-2012 received illegal funding from former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.<br /><br />Sarkozy’s plans of running for president in 2017 look like they could now be in serious jeopardy.
