Nicolas Sarkozy to face probe over illegal poll financing

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy would be heard this week over allegations of suspected illegal financing of his 2007 election campaign by L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, Xinhua reported.

Having lost immunity from prosecution after failing to snatch a second term last May, Sarkozy's home and offices were searched by French police in July as part of investigation into the Bettencourt affair.

"His hearing was initially scheduled last Friday. But... Nicolas Sarkozy was then unavailable. It is this week that the former president was summoned to Bordeaux (southern France) to answer many questions in charge of the case Bettencourt," local broadcaster Europe 1 reported on Monday.

In 2010, a former bookkeeper of Bettencourt revealed that 150,000 euros (about $192,000) were offered to finance Sarkozy's 2007 campaign.

French law limits donations to parties to 7,500 euros per person per year with only 150 euros given in cash.