Former French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy faces charges on Tuesday of alleged involvement in attempting to influence a witness who accused her husband, ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy, of receiving illegal campaign funds from Libya, according to AP.
Bruni-Sarkozy was placed under judicial supervision, which restricts her from contacting anyone involved in the case except her husband.
The preliminary charges against Bruni-Sarkozy include accusations of witness tampering and participating in a criminal association to deceive investigators into allegations that Nicolas Sarkozy received illicit funds during his 2007 presidential campaign.
The news outlet said that despite repeated requests for comment, Bruni-Sarkozy’s lawyer has not responded.
Following her police questioning in May, her legal team mentioned that she had provided “useful clarifications and explanations” without elaborating further.
The witness in question, Ziad Takieddine, plays a central role in the allegations that Nicolas Sarkozy accepted millions in illegal payments from the regime of Libya’s former leader, Moammar Gadhafi.
Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, was already convicted in two other legal cases In February, an appeals court upheld a guilty verdict against him for illegal campaign financing during his unsuccessful 2012 re-election bid. Although sentenced to a year in prison, with six months suspended, Sarkozy remains free pending an appeal to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, which prevents his imprisonment under French law.
Separately, in 2021, Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption and influence peddling, marking a historic moment as the first former French president sentenced to prison for actions during his tenure.
Since retiring from active politics in 2017, Sarkozy has defended himself vigorously against all accusations of wrongdoing.