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Sarkozy back before judges over 2012 election campaign finances

The former French president was quizzed over alleged fraudulent system of false invoices to hide gross overspending on his failed re-election bid.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is being questioned by judges investigating the finances of his failed 2012 re-election campaign, reports ABC News.

Sarkozy, a conservative who is positioning to run again next year, appeared Tuesday before judges investigating the invoice system between his party, then called UMP, and a company named Bygmalion allegedly used to conceal unauthorized overspending.

France had a campaign finance ceiling in 2012 of 22.5 million euros ($25 million). Sarkozy is accused of overspending by 17 million euros ($19 million).

Several people close to Sarkozy, including his former top adviser, already face preliminary charges in the case, one of several linked to the former president, who lost to Francois Hollande in 2012.

Read more of this AP report published by ABC News.