Nicolas Sarkozy in police custody over Gaddafi allegations

Sarkozy, who was France’s rightwing president from 2007 to 2012, was being questioned on Tuesday morning by police officers specialising in corruption, money laundering and tax evasion at their office in the western Parisian suburb of Nanterre, as part of an inquiry into whether Gaddafi and others in Libya illegally financed his winning election campaign in 2007.

The investigation is potentially France’s most explosive political financing scandal in decades. Sarkozy has repeatedly denied the allegations, dismissing the claims as “grotesque”.

Here we go. That’s why #RafaleScam must be investigated & not wrapped in nationalistic slogans. France has a long history of corruption at the highest levels.

BawliBooch wrote:

Nicolas Sarkozy in police custody over Gaddafi allegations

Sarkozy, who was France’s rightwing president from 2007 to 2012, was being questioned on Tuesday morning by police officers specialising in corruption, money laundering and tax evasion at their office in the western Parisian suburb of Nanterre, as part of an inquiry into whether Gaddafi and others in Libya illegally financed his winning election campaign in 2007.

The investigation is potentially France’s most explosive political financing scandal in decades. Sarkozy has repeatedly denied the allegations, dismissing the claims as “grotesque”.

Here we go. That’s why #RafaleScam must be investigated & not wrapped in nationalistic slogans. France has a long history of corruption at the highest levels.

Well, apparently even the whole Libyan war and destruction of the country didn't help former President Sarcozy anyhow.

BawliBooch wrote:

Here we go. That’s why #RafaleScam must be investigated & not wrapped in nationalistic slogans. France has a long history of corruption at the highest levels.

And - some here criticize Russia for some "Facebook meddling".

anrec80 wrote:

BawliBooch wrote:

Here we go. That’s why #RafaleScam must be investigated & not wrapped in nationalistic slogans. France has a long history of corruption at the highest levels.

And - some here criticize Russia for some "Facebook meddling".

Your Putin is corrupt to the bone, ever since he stole western donated money to feet the St Pietersburg's population in 1991.

At least in France, there is an investigation and the justice system still works and this proof is independent. In Russia the lady justice isn't blind. So get of your high horse there.

BawliBooch wrote:

Nicolas Sarkozy in police custody over Gaddafi allegations

Sarkozy, who was France’s rightwing president from 2007 to 2012, was being questioned on Tuesday morning by police officers specialising in corruption, money laundering and tax evasion at their office in the western Parisian suburb of Nanterre, as part of an inquiry into whether Gaddafi and others in Libya illegally financed his winning election campaign in 2007.

The investigation is potentially France’s most explosive political financing scandal in decades. Sarkozy has repeatedly denied the allegations, dismissing the claims as “grotesque”.

Here we go. That’s why #RafaleScam must be investigated & not wrapped in nationalistic slogans. France has a long history of corruption at the highest levels.

Yes, it needs to be investigated and it was resulting in this arrest. We will see if it will lead to a conviction or not.

The Rafale deal with India isn't related to this, so why bring it up?

BawliBooch wrote:

That’s why #RafaleScam must be investigated & not wrapped in nationalistic slogans.

#NobodyCaresAboutYourAllegedRafaleScam

I would love to see Sarkozy rot in jail but my hopes aren't high of that happening.

I'm relieved that the election wasn't a close one so I don't think he would have lost even without that money (and other illegal funds he also got).

In 2012 I believe he still benefited from illegal money, and used his position to help his campaign, but he still lost. That one was closer and in a way this hurt François Hollande who was seen as less legitimate as a result, having won only because Sarkozy was so hated.

I understand that for one that is more familiar with common law than french judiciary system, you can be confused.

Unfortunately Sarkozy was not arrested. The financial police want to ask him some questions about alleged black money from Libya, and, as there is no habeas corpus in the french system, Police can keep him up to 24 h (48 H if a judge agrees) to try to get some answers. It will not be easy to get him to answer.

Dutchy wrote:

Your Putin is corrupt to the bone, ever since he stole western donated money to feet the St Pietersburg's population in 1991.

MY Putin? :O

Dutchy wrote:

The Rafale deal with India isn't related to this, so why bring it up?

This Sarkozy episode just shows how deeply embedded political corruption is in both France & India. Bofor's scam details got out in part because Sweden (where that company was based) has a more transparent system. It is going to be more challenging for journalists to get to the root of the Rafale Scam.

scbriml wrote:

#NobodyCaresAboutYourAllegedRafaleScam

Maybe you dont think political corruption is a big deal. But it is important to some of us.

Glad to see French authorities beginning with enquiries. It is an important first step.

Dutchy wrote:

Your Putin is corrupt to the bone, ever since he stole western donated money to feet the St Pietersburg's population in 1991.

At least in France, there is an investigation and the justice system still works and this proof is independent. In Russia the lady justice isn't blind. So get of your high horse there.

Putin isn't mine. He is the President of Russian Federation.

anrec80 wrote:

Putin isn't mine. He is the President of Russian Federation.

I does appear that he is your local deity.

Overall, Sarcozy's campaigns are all but foreign meddling. First - Ghaddafi's money. Second - use of American "unbiased and independent" judicial system. Remember Dominic Strauss-Khan? When he was allegedly harassed some maid, thrown to jail, had to miss elections, and later it was not even clear whether or not it was the same woman, was she even there, was that even her, etc. What a cheap, dirty, nasty setup! Ugggh. Disgusting!

What amazes me the most is that French as the nation and France as the state just swallowed this sort of thing. As if it's OK to just throw a political leader of an allied country to jail based on something as shady and small as this. And here in the US they are sticking to some Facebook posts.

anrec80 wrote:

What amazes me the most is that French as the nation and France as the state just swallowed this sort of thing. As if it's OK to just throw a political leader of an allied country to jail based on something as shady and small as this. And here in the US they are sticking to some Facebook posts.

I apologise for getting the title of the OP wrong. I dont think Sarkozy was arrested per-se. Only held for interrogation.

It isnt like the Third World. The authorities must have had some solid leads to warrant such a course of action.

scbriml wrote:

#NobodyCaresAboutYourAllegedRafaleScam

anrec80 wrote:

What amazes me the most is that French as the nation and France as the state just swallowed this sort of thing. As if it's OK to just throw a political leader of an allied country to jail based on something as shady and small as this. And here in the US they are sticking to some Facebook posts.

?? Most French people believe that DSK's downfall was a setup.

anrec80 wrote:

And here in the US they are sticking to some Facebook posts.

You conveniently forgot about the financial relationship.

Personally I don't think it was a setup. You wouldn't hire such an ugly woman for such a task.

Sarkozy had plans to bring DSK's proclivities up during the campaign, but at the time it would have been unlikely to work. DSK was well known as a Weinstein type yet nobody cared and nobody complained until what happened in NYC.

BawliBooch wrote:

Nicolas Sarkozy in police custody over Gaddafi allegations

Sarkozy, who was France’s rightwing president from 2007 to 2012, was being questioned on Tuesday morning by police officers specialising in corruption, money laundering and tax evasion at their office in the western Parisian suburb of Nanterre, as part of an inquiry into whether Gaddafi and others in Libya illegally financed his winning election campaign in 2007.

The investigation is potentially France’s most explosive political financing scandal in decades. Sarkozy has repeatedly denied the allegations, dismissing the claims as “grotesque”.

Here we go. That’s why #RafaleScam must be investigated & not wrapped in nationalistic slogans. France has a long history of corruption at the highest levels.

Seems to be some truth to that, look at the current Airbus investigations. I doubt we'll ever know the full scale of that.

Even worse about Sarkozy, he took the man's money, then led the charge to kill him.

salttee wrote:

anrec80 wrote:

Putin isn't mine. He is the President of Russian Federation.

I does appear that he is your local deity.

No. He is not.

BawliBooch wrote:

It isnt like the Third World. The authorities must have had some solid leads to warrant such a course of action.

In Strauss-Khan case it turned out to be not unlike third world at all. And the leads were shown to be far from solid, if existent at all.

zkojq wrote:

anrec80 wrote:

What amazes me the most is that French as the nation and France as the state just swallowed this sort of thing. As if it's OK to just throw a political leader of an allied country to jail based on something as shady and small as this. And here in the US they are sticking to some Facebook posts.

?? Most French people believe that DSK's downfall was a setup.

I am saying it's a setup too. But - France kept good relations with the USA during and after this like nothing was really happened. While such a thing is perfectly valid grounds to terminate all diplomatic relations altogether, including allied ones.

anrec80 wrote:

zkojq wrote:

anrec80 wrote:

What amazes me the most is that French as the nation and France as the state just swallowed this sort of thing. As if it's OK to just throw a political leader of an allied country to jail based on something as shady and small as this. And here in the US they are sticking to some Facebook posts.

?? Most French people believe that DSK's downfall was a setup.

I am saying it's a setup too. But - France kept good relations with the USA during and after this like nothing was really happened. While such a thing is perfectly valid grounds to terminate all diplomatic relations altogether, including allied ones.

Anrec80 is a Russian troll and is hoping to have more confusion and mistrust in western countries and institutions. Seeing his post in this light helps to see what he really wants.

Dutchy wrote:

Anrec80 is a Russian troll and is hoping to have more confusion and mistrust in western countries and institutions. Seeing his post in this light helps to see what he really wants.

For sure and his antics are rather tiresome.

Dutchy wrote:

anrec80 wrote:

zkojq wrote:

?? Most French people believe that DSK's downfall was a setup.

I am saying it's a setup too. But - France kept good relations with the USA during and after this like nothing was really happened. While such a thing is perfectly valid grounds to terminate all diplomatic relations altogether, including allied ones.

Anrec80 is a Russian troll and is hoping to have more confusion and mistrust in western countries and institutions. Seeing his post in this light helps to see what he really wants.

Ahh - this is another Western theme of late - someone is trying to crack “united” west apart. And yes, this is Russia too!