In what many are hoping is the first act in a massive cleanup of worldwide corruption and greed, police in France have begun carrying out a massive search of the home and offices of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The search is being carried out as part of a campaign financing investigation.
A law firm in which Sarkozy owns shares is also being searched at this hour, according to sources.
The probe revolves around allegations that Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential election campaign took in illegal donations from Liliane Bettencourt, France’s wealthiest woman.
Judge Jean-Michel Gentil and other investigators from the Paris financial crimes unit are conducting today’s search of Sarkozy’s home and offices.
Sarkozy has thus far denied any wrongdoing and is currently in Canada with his family, according to his lawyer, Thierry Herzog.
Sarkozy lost May’s French presidential elections to Socialist challenger Francois Hollande. More importantly, his presidential immunity from prosecution expired on June 16th.
It has been alleged that tens of thousands of euros had been funneled to Sarkozy’s campaign by the offices of the the L’Oreal cosmetics heiress.
Campaign contributions by individual in France are capped at 4,600 euros ($5,800).
“These raids… will as expected prove futile,” Herzog said in a prepared statement.
Could this be the beginning of the end of global corruption? With more searches for other political figures allegedly in the works, only time will tell.
Related articles
- Nicolas Sarkozy’s home raided by French police – The Guardian (guardian.co.uk)
- Nicolas Sarkozy’s home raided, official says (wjla.com)
- French police search Sarkozy home (bbc.co.uk)
- Ex-President Sarkozy’s home, offices searched (newsok.com)
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