Sarkozy faces second day of questioning
Libya probe case France’s most explosive political financing scandal
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy returned to police custody yesterday for a second day of questioning over allegations the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi helped finance his 2007 election campaign, sources close to the inquiry told AFP.
Sarkozy, 63, arrived just before 8am (0700 GMT) at the bureau of officers specialising in corruption, money laundering and tax evasion in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre, an AFP journalist said.
He was first taken into custody on Tuesday morning, but left the police building around midnight.
Since 2013, investigating magistrates have been probing media reports, as well as statements by Gaddafi’s son Saif Al Islam, that claimed funds were provided for Sarkozy’s run at the presidency.
The case is France’s most explosive political financing scandal and one of several legal probes that have dogged the right wing politician since he left office after one term in 2012.
Brice Hortefeux, a Sarkozy ally who was a top minister during his presidency, was also questioned Tuesday until about 11.30pm.
“Testifying freely, the details provided should put an end to a series of errors and lies,” Hortefeux later wrote on Twitter.
Under French law Sarkozy can be held for questioning for up to 48 hours, after which he can be either released, told to return for further questioning later, or brought before a judge to potentially face charges.
Suitcases of cash?
In 2011, as Nato-backed forces were driving Gaddafi out of power, Saif Al Islam told the Euronews network that “Sarkozy must first give back the money he took from Libya to finance his electoral campaign.”
Sarkozy has dismissed the allegations as the rantings of vindictive Libyan regime members who were furious over France’s military intervention in Libya that helped end Gaddafi’s 41year rule and led to his death.
He has also sued the investigative website Mediapart, which has led media coverage of the Libyan allegations since 2012, publishing a document allegedly signed by Libya’s intelligence chief showing that Gaddafi had agreed to fund Sarkozy to the tune of €50 million (Dh226 million).
The case drew heightened scrutiny in November 2016 when a Franco-Lebanese businessman admitted delivering three cashstuffed suitcases from the Libyan leader in 2006 and 2007 as contributions towards Sarkozy’s first presidential run.
In an interview, again with Mediapart, Ziad Takieddine claimed he provided €1.5 million to €2 million in €200 and €500 notes each time and was given the money by Gaddafi’s military intelligence chief Abdallah Senussi.