Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with corruption and influence peddling in a criminal investigation, French prosecutors said Wednesday.
The decision came after Sarkozy was questioned for 15 hours, marking the first time a French head of state has been taken into custody.
Sarkozy was detained yesterday and questioned by financial investigators in a corruption probe.
A judicial official said Tuesday that Sarkozy is in custody in the Paris suburb of Nanterre.
The official, who was not authorized to be publicly named discussing an ongoing investigation, would not provide further details.
French media reports say Sarkozy is being questioned in an investigation into financing for his 2007 presidential campaign. The case centers around whether Sarkozy and his lawyer were kept informed of insider information on the investigation by a friendly magistrate.
Sarkozy and his lawyer have denied wrongdoing. Sarkozy is considering a political comeback after his 2012 defeat by President Francois Hollande.
AP and AFP contributed to this report
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