Sarkozy to be questioned by judge over Bettencourt donations
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will appear before a judge on Thursday in connection with claims that he accepted illegal funds from Liliane Bettencourt, heiress to the L'Oréal cosmetics fortune, during his 2007 presidential campaign, French media reports said on Monday.
The French daily Le Figaro reported on its website that Sarkozy had been summoned to appear before Jean-Michel Gentil, a judge in the southwestern city of Bordeaux, and two judicial colleagues to ascertain whether Sarkozy's campaign, or other figures from his Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, received funds from a Swiss bank account held by Bettencourt. The allegations involve a tranche of seven international transfers worth a total of €4 million.
Sarkozy has dismissed the allegations as "slander," France 24 reported.