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16:42 GMT
PARIS, April 19 (KUNA) -- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is
already facing criminal investigation in a campaign financing scandal, is
being place under separate judicial enquiry into allegations he received over
USD 65 million in funding for his 2007 campaign from former Libyan leader
Moammer Gaddafi, media and judicial sources said Friday.
Last month, Sarkozy was placed under "formal investigation" by an
investigating magistrate amid suspicions he "took advantage of an enfeebled
person" by acquiring cash payments from 90-year-old billionaire Liliane
Bettencourt, the owner of the L'Oreal cosmetics empire.
Sarkozy, who was president from 2007-2012 is likely to face criminal
charges but he denies any wrongdoing and says he will prove the allegations
false.
On Friday, "France 24" TV channel reported that judicial sources confirmed
an investigation was underway on the Libyan connection, whereby Sarkozy is
alleged to have received 50 million Euros (over USD 65 million dollars) from
the Libyan leader.
Last year, shortly after France led an international coalition to support
rebels seeking to oust Gaddafi, the Libyan leader several times before he died
threatened to make damaging revelations about the then French president.
French investigative, online media "Mediapart" claimed last April that
Sarkozy had received financing from Libya's leader but Sarkozy denied the
claims and is suing the media for slander.
Other sources have also claimed funds were transferred from Gaddafi to the
Sarkozy election campaign and the allegations are now being official
investigated and he could face corruption charges.
The former president is also accused of having bugged certain journalists
when he was in office and there are also allegations that he misused
government money to pay associates for opinion polls when he was Head of
State. (end)
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