Nicolas Sarkozy Released After Two Days of Detention in Financial Corruption Case

The former President of France was released on Wednesday, April 1, after two days of detention and answering questions regarding allegations of financial corruption linked to former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. A knowledgeable and official source confirmed this news to the French news agency, stating: "Nicolas Sarkozy is no longer in custody." However, this source did not disclose the potential outcome of the investigations or whether Mr. Sarkozy has been exonerated or if the case is still ongoing. Mr. Sarkozy is accused of receiving suitcases full of cash from Muammar Gaddafi for his election campaign. He was arrested on Tuesday and after 15 hours of interrogation, was allowed to leave custody and return home for the night, returning on Wednesday morning to continue the session. Mr. Sarkozy's defense lawyers have remained silent regarding the past two days of questioning and have not spoken to the media. Sarkozy served as President of France from 2007 to 2012 and has faced criticism regarding his connections with Muammar Gaddafi since the early months of his presidency. This is the second legal case that the 63-year-old Sarkozy is grappling with; judicial authorities are also conducting a separate investigation into potential "illegal" expenses during Sarkozy's 2012 election campaign. Brice Hortefeux, a Sarkozy ally and one of his senior cabinet ministers, was also summoned for questioning on Tuesday. His lawyer stated after the session that "Mr. Hortefeux has once again assured that he received no financial assistance from Libya or any other foreign country." Mr. Sarkozy has denied any involvement in wrongdoing. The former French president has also filed a lawsuit against the investigative reporting site "Mediapart." This site claimed in reports and documents that in 2012, the head of Libyan intelligence agreed to pay Mr. Sarkozy up to 50 million euros – 62 million dollars. A French-Lebanese businessman confessed in November 2016 that he received three suitcases full of cash from the former Libyan leader in 2006 and 2007 and delivered them to assist Sarkozy's first presidential campaign. Following that, the Mediapart report was reignited. This French-Lebanese businessman, named Ziad Takieddine, stated in an interview with Mediapart that he received amounts between one and a half to two million euros in 200 and 500 euro banknotes each time from Abdullah Senussi, Gaddafi's military intelligence chief.