Nicolas Sarkozy ‘arrested’: Former French president in custody in police probe
Nicolas Sarkozy (C) leaves the Pole financier in Paris in February 2016
Mr Sarkozy was however placed under formal examination in February 2016 over alleged illegal campaign funding in 2012.
This is the first time Mr Sarkozy has been spoken to by authorities in connection with the inquiry, which opened in 2013.
He was summoned to a police station in Nanterre where he is being questioned over the allegations.
The probe relates to alleged Libyan funding for Mr Sarkozy's 2007 campaign, Le Monde newspaper reported.
He can be held for up to 48 hours and presented to Magistrates Court for indictment immediately if police seek charges.France opened a judicial inquiry in 2013 into allegations he accepted €59million from late Moammer Gaddafi’s regime, claims which have been reported by French businessman Ziad Takieddine and the Libyan dictator’s son.
But Mr Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, has always denied receiving any illicit campaign funding and has dismissed the Libyan allegations as "grotesque".
A lawyer for Mr Sarkozy could not be reached immediately for comment.
A former minister and close ally of Sarkozy, Brice Hortefeux, was also being questioned by police on Tuesday morning in relation to the Libya investigation, another source close to the probe said.
In January a French businessman suspected by investigators of funneling money from Gaddafi to finance Mr Sarkozy's campaign was arrested in Britain and granted bail after he appeared in a London court.
Mr Sarkozy has already been ordered to stand trial in a separate matter concerning financing of his failed re-election campaign in 2012, when he was defeated by Francois Hollande.
He was president of France between 2007 and 2012.
Mr Sarkozy tried to make a policitcal comeback in the 2 017 election, but failed to convince voters and members of his own party.
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