France's Sarkozy placed under investigation

Photo - FILE - This Friday, May 4, 2012 file photo shows France's then President and conservative candidate for re-election in 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy as he delivers a speech in Sables d'Ollonne, western France. Sarkozy went before a judge on Thursday, Nov.22, 2012 to respond to suspicions he illegally accepted donations from France's richest woman to fund his 2007 election campaign. The judge in Bordeaux could decide whether the 57-year-old conservative, a polarizing figure who often faced criticism for cozy ties to the rich, will be charged with taking advantage of the 90-year-old L'Oreal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt. Sarkozy has consistently denied all allegations.(AP Photo/Michel Euler, File) — FILE - This Friday, May 4, 2012 file photo shows France's then President and conservative candidate for re-election in 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy as he delivers a speech in Sables d'Ollonne, western France. Sarkozy went before a judge on Thursday, Nov.22, 2012 to respond to suspicions he illegally accepted donations from France's richest woman to fund his 2007 election campaign. The judge in Bordeaux could decide whether the 57-year-old conservative, a polarizing figure who often faced criticism for cozy ties to the rich, will be charged with taking advantage of the 90-year-old L'Oreal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt. Sarkozy has consistently denied all allegations.(AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

PARIS (AP) -- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under investigation as a special witness after a day spent answering a judge's questions about a whether he accepted illegal campaign donations from Europe's richest woman.

After 12 hours of questioning, the prosecutor in Bordeaux Claude Laplaud confirmed to Sipa news that Sarkozy had been named a witness with the possibility of facing charges later in the case of the 90-year-old L'Oreal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt.

Sarkozy left the courthouse shortly before 10 p.m. local time, accompanied by his lawyer.

Bettencourt's former accountant told police she handed over Û150,000 ($192,000) in cash she was told would be passed on to Sarkozy's campaign treasurer. In July, a magistrate ordered the seizure of Sarkozy's diaries, including his calendars.