French ex-president could face trial over campaign funding: report

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who announced a bid for re-election in 2017, could face trial over alleged political financing offences during his 2012 election campaign, according to local report.

Prosecutors on Monday recommended that the 13 people involved in irregularities be tried, BFMTV news channel reported.

The investigating magistrate would decide whether to agree with prosecutor 's decision or to drop it in one month, it added.

In 2013, Sarkozy was accused of exceeding spending limits for his 2012 election campaign by nearly 23 million euros (25.67 million U.S. dollars), 2.1 percent more than is allowed under French law.

The scandal sparked after claims that invoices for former president's 2012 election campaign were passed off as the party's expenses.

However, the politician had repeatedly denied knowledge of false accounting.

About 13 people, including Sarkozy and main figures in 2012 campaign, have already been placed under investigation for alleged overspending during the election campaign.

The former head of state has been in a series of investigations over corruption, including the Bettencourt affair in which he was charged with taking financial advantage of the elderly French billionaire, Liliane Bettencourt, the heiress of the L'Oreal group.

Source : XINHUA