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On March 21, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was charged with "abuse of weakness" over allegations he took money from l’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt to illegally finance his presidential campaign.
If convicted, Sarkozy, would face up to three years in jail, a fine of up to €375,000 and a five-year ban from holding public office.
Sarkozy, who earlier this month hinted of a political comeback ahead of the 2017 presidential elections, allegedly made several visits to Bettencourt, who was then aged 84, to collect envelopes of money.
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