Download
France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with corruption and influence peddling, French prosecutors said on Wednesday, a dramatic move in a criminal probe that could wreck his hopes of a political comeback.
The decision came after Sarkozy was questioned for 15 hours, marking the first time a French ex-head of state had been taken into custody in a criminal investigation.
Sarkozy had been detained at a police station in a Paris suburb over a suspected attempt to illegally influence judicial proceedings in one of a raft of colorful corruption cases he is implicated in.
After the lengthy questioning, the former president was taken in early on Wednesday to appear before a judge, where he was"mis en examen" - put under formal investigation in what amounts to being charged, based on preliminary evidence – the prosecution said in a statement. He was then released while the investigation went ahead.
If convicted of the charges, Sarkozy could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
"This situation is serious and the charges are serious ... and furthermore they concern senior magistrates, a lawyer and a former president," Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Wednesday.
"The most important thing is for the judicial system to be able to work in a fully independent manner and peacefully and that the presumption of innocence is respected," Valls said on BFM television.
The prime minister denied suggestions that Sarkozy was being hounded by the Socialist government. "It's not us who are asking these judges to launch investigations," he said.
Sarkozy's longtime lawyer Thierry Herzog and a magistrate, Gilbert Azibert -taken into custody a day earlier alongside another magistrate - were both charged with influence peddling in a late night court appearance, their respective lawyers said.
Investigators suspect Sarkozy tried to obtain inside information from one of the magistrates about confidential proceedings in an illegal election campaign financing case, and that he was tipped off by a senior figure when judges tapped his phones.
Sarkozy, 59, has faced virtually non-stop legal battles since he left office following his defeat by Socialist candidate Francois Hollande in the 2017 presidential vote.
He had been expected to attempt a political comeback in time for the next presidential poll in 2017, but those plans could be torpedoed after being charged in this case.
He vehemently denies any wrongdoing, and his allies denounced what they see as a witch hunt against Sarkozy.
"Never before has a former president been subjected to such treatment, such an unleashing of hate," said Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice and an MP for Sarkozy's UMP party.
The case was launched after judges looking into the alleged financing of Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign by former Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi obtained an unprecedented and controversial authorization to tap the former president's phones from April 2013.
After four fruitless months they discovered Sarkozy had a secret phone registered under an assumed name, and recordings from that device led to the opening of the influence peddling investigation.
At the root of the case are the allegations that Sarkozy was helped to victory in the 2007 election with up to 50 million euros ($70 million at the time) from Gadhafi and envelopes stuffed with cash from France's richest woman, L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.
He dismisses the Gadhafi claims as ridiculous in light of his leading role in the Libyan leader's 2011 overthrow, and he was acquitted last year of taking Bettencourt's money.
About the broadcaster:
Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.
说明自己辞职的原因
如何回复别人的祝贺信
酒店内禁止与征询意见
职场入门(1):怎样写求职信
面试时需要适度恭维
公司前台接待员英语会话(2)
如何形容老板的严格?
求职信需拿捏好语气
给自己设定新的目标
给面试官留下良好的第一印象(1)
公司前台接待员英语会话(3)
毕业生的择业指南
职场面试讨论自己的教育背景
名片英语之银行帐号翻译
名片上的英文信息
面试结束记得保持礼貌
你是否准备好找工作了?
应聘贸易人员的面试案例
如何给别人写祝贺信
求职面试中常见问答
英语广告中的句型特色
面试听不懂时该怎么办?
应聘销售人员的面试案例
你应该问面试官什么问题?
职场面试问题大搜罗
办公室系列口语之薪水
面试商谈薪水的技巧
职场入门(3):面试准备
怎样写高质量的求职信
在企业里面做Presentation
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |