Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was detained by anti-corruption police for questioning on Tuesday. The investigators are attempting to determine whether or not he used a magistrate as an informant during judicial proceedings against him.

French media reports are characterizing the current questioning as "unprecedented." The New York Times notes that "under French law, the subject of an investigation can be arrested and questioned for up to 24 hours, with a possible extension of another day, without being formally charged with a crime."

The magistrate in question, Gilbert Azibert, supposedly gave Sarkozy information about investigations into his conduct and campaign finances over the last few years. Sarkozy has been previously accused of illegally funding his 2007 presidential campaign with $68 million from the late Muammar Gaddafi. The former president hopes to run again in 2017.

[Image via AP]