[Photo via Sydney Morning Herald]

READ MORE: New Phone-Tapping Scandal Plagues Sarkozy

Sarkozy and his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, are accused of attempting to create a network of informants in France’s highest court, Cour de Cassation, by offering high-ranking jobs in order to obtain information that would help his defense in another case involving L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

READ MORE: Nicolas Sarkozy 'held for questioning' by police: Former French President condemns ‘Stasi’ tactics behind his arrest

The alleged influence-trafficking was discovered by authorities during phone-tapping while investigating yet another case involving allegations that Mr. Sarkozy sought $50 million from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 campaign.

While Mr. Sarkozy has been accused of multiple illegal dealings since leaving office, this case is the most serious and marks the first time a former French head of state has been held in formal police custody.