Former Sarkozy minister charged

Former French labour minister Eric Woerth has been with corruption as part of an enquiry into whether frail 93-year old L'Oreal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt, illegally funded President Nicolas Sarkozy's successful 2007 election campaign.

Woerth, former treasurer under Sarkozy's government was charged late Wednesday with "passive influence peddling" by a public official. The first senior politician to be charged over the "Bettencourt affair", if convicted he could face up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000 euro ($200,000) fine.

Investigating magistrates in Bordeaux questioned Woerth for over 11 hours late Wednesday following allegations made by the heiress' former accountant. Claire Thibout claims she was asked to make cash payments in 2007 from Bettencourt's estate and understood the money was headed for Sarkozy's electoral campaign. Thibout says she handed over 50,000 euros in cash to Bettencourt's finance manager Patrik de Maistre with the understanding it was to be given to Woerth to fund the presidential campaign.

Both Woerth and de Maistre have denied the allegations, which saw Woerth forced to quit office in 2010.

Under French law individual election campaign donations are capped at 4,600 euros.

The outcome of the corruption charges hangs over Sarkozy as he prepares to seek re-election in April.

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