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French Judge Puts Sarkozy Corruption Investigation on Hold French Judge Suspends Sarkozy Corruption Investigation
(about 11 hours later)
PARIS — A French judge on Wednesday temporarily suspended a corruption investigation of the former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to allow time to review Mr. Sarkozy’s motion to dismiss the charges.PARIS — A French judge on Wednesday temporarily suspended a corruption investigation of the former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to allow time to review Mr. Sarkozy’s motion to dismiss the charges.
Mr. Sarkozy could still face charges of corruption and influence-peddling if the motion to dismiss fails, according to Magali Josse, a spokeswoman for the Paris Appeals Court.Mr. Sarkozy could still face charges of corruption and influence-peddling if the motion to dismiss fails, according to Magali Josse, a spokeswoman for the Paris Appeals Court.
In July, Mr. Sarkozy was taken into police custody for questioning over accusations of corruption related to the financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. He is accused of seeking confidential information from an influential judge and of financing the campaign with about $68 million in illegal funds from Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya. If charged and found guilty of the most serious accusations, Mr. Sarkozy could face up to 10 years in prison.In July, Mr. Sarkozy was taken into police custody for questioning over accusations of corruption related to the financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. He is accused of seeking confidential information from an influential judge and of financing the campaign with about $68 million in illegal funds from Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya. If charged and found guilty of the most serious accusations, Mr. Sarkozy could face up to 10 years in prison.
The former president has called the accusations “grotesque” and expressed anger that his private conversations were secretly recorded by investigators. This month, Mr. Sarkozy and his lawyers requested that the case against him be dropped.The former president has called the accusations “grotesque” and expressed anger that his private conversations were secretly recorded by investigators. This month, Mr. Sarkozy and his lawyers requested that the case against him be dropped.
Though unusual, the suspension of an inquiry ordered by an investigative judge is not unheard-of in France. In the case of Mr. Sarkozy, the suspension was ordered only days after he announced on his Facebook page that he would seek the presidency of his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, a possible first step toward declaring his candidacy to run for the presidency in 2017.Though unusual, the suspension of an inquiry ordered by an investigative judge is not unheard-of in France. In the case of Mr. Sarkozy, the suspension was ordered only days after he announced on his Facebook page that he would seek the presidency of his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, a possible first step toward declaring his candidacy to run for the presidency in 2017.