The charges involving illegal campaign funding from a foreign dictator are the most serious faced by a former French president in recent history. PARIS—Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was handed preliminary charges Tuesday over allegations he accepted millions of euros in illegal campaign funding from the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The sum would be more than double the legal campaign funding limit at the time — 21 million euros. Investigators are examining allegations that Gadhafi’s regime secretly gave Sarkozy 50 million euros (about $62 million) overall for his presidential election bid. Takieddine alleged he gave a third suitcase with 1.5 million euros in cash to the aide alone.

Source: thestar March 21, 2018 21:01 UTC