France: Sarkozy accuses magistrates of conspiracy to humilate him - by Thomas Adamson

Nicholas Sarkozy - Corruption  charges

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has accused the country’s justice system of trying to “humiliate” and “destroy” him, after he was charged in a corruption probe that could spell trouble for his future political ambitions.

The former conservative party leader fought back in a broadcast interview Wednesday, just hours after his release from questioning over a highly publicized investigation into judicial allegations that he took the equivalent of $73-million (U.S.) in illegal campaign funds from Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi.

The detention – a very unusual move for such a high-level figure – has dominated French news broadcasts and comes as his faltering UMP political party has floated a possible comeback by the hard-driving 59-year-old.

Mr. Sarkozy, who spent nearly a day in custody on Tuesday answering questions about his 2007 presidential campaign, said on TF1 TV and Europe-1 radio that he was “profoundly shocked” over his 16-hour detention.

“Is it normal that I should be in custody for so long?” Mr. Sarkozy asked, squinting intensely at an interviewer. He said his detention was motivated out of “a desire to humiliate me.”

“A part of the justice system is being used for political purposes,” he said, warning of an unspecified plot.

Read more: ReSarkozy accuses magistrates of conspiracy to humilate him - The Globe and Mail