France: Sarkozy Faces Investigation

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/world/europe/france-sarkozy-faces-investigation.html

Version 0 of 1.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy was informed Thursday that he would face a formal investigation into whether he abused the frailty of Liliane Bettencourt, 90, the heiress to the L’Oréal fortune and France’s richest woman, to get funds for his 2007 presidential campaign. Mr. Sarkozy has denied accepting illegal campaign funds from Ms. Bettencourt, either personally or through his party treasurer at the time, Éric Woerth, as alleged by her former butler. Mr. Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, called the judge’s decision, which indicates that the judge believes that Mr. Sarkozy probably committed a crime, “incoherent” and “unjust.” The lawyer said he would appeal. The ruling does not necessarily mean that Mr. Sarkozy, who lost his re-election bid last May and with it his presidential immunity from prosecution, will stand trial.