Former French prime minister and one-time presidential hopeful Dominique de Villepin was taken into police custody for questioning related to a suspected financial scam involving a luxury hotel group.
Mr Villepin (58), prime minister in 2005-2007 under then president Jacques Chirac, was questioned about his ties to a man suspected of financial fraud. He was released after seven hours, a police spokesman said.
Best known internationally for announcing, in an impassioned speech at the United Nations in 2003, Mr Chirac’s refusal to join a war against Iraq, Mr Villepin denied any wrongdoing.
Magistrates are investigating whether a friend and political backer of Mr Villepin siphoned off money when he was in charge of an association of luxury hotels called Relais Chateaux. – (Reuters)