The corruption scandal surrounding ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy has deepened following the release of a leaked telephone conversation, APA reports quoting Press TV.
According to extracts of tapped phone conversations published by French media on Saturday, the former president allegedly attempted to lobby a job for a Monacan judge in return for help on one of six bribery and funding scandals.
During a phone call which allegedly took place in February 2014 with his long-term lawyer Thierry Herzog, Sarkozy says, “I will help him (the judge)… I will get him set up,” adding, “Call him today and tell him I will sort it out. I am going to Monaco and I will see the prince (Albert).”
Under French law, it is a criminal offense to promise a public position as a favour, whether the position is given to the person or not.
On July 2, Sarkozy was charged in an inquiry into alleged corruption in the financing of his 2007 election campaign.
The 59-year-old French politician is suspected of influence-peddling, corruption and benefiting from “the breach of professional secrets” in relation to allegations that he had solicited illegal funds for his election campaign from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Sarkozy denies any wrongdoing in all the cases.
It is the second time the former president has been placed under such a judicial probe. In the first case, Sarkozy was questioned concerning allegations that he had received illegal donations from French billionaire Liliane Bettencourt. The case was dropped in October 2013.
Political analysts say the development could dash the Sarkozy’s hopes of a political comeback in the 2017 presidential vote.
