Former French president Nicholas Sarkozy has been questioned for 12 hours about allegations that he received illegal donations from the country's richest woman.
Mr Sarkozy was declared a material witness, which means he's a suspect, but he hasn't been formally charged.
Mr Sarkozy is suspected of accepting thousands of euros from L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.
The 57-year-old, who had immunity from prosecution while he held office, denies any wrongdoing.
Police raided his home and offices in July as part of an inquiry ordered by examining magistrate, Jean-Michel Gentil.
Although he has stepped back from frontline politics since his defeat by Socialist challenger Francois Hollande, Mr Sarkozy is rumoured still to harbour ambitions of running for re-election in 2017, the BBC's reports.
The outcome of the investigation could determine whether the former president will make his widely anticipated return.
Mr Sarkozy was given the status of a material witness at the end of the gruelling session with the judge in the south-western city of Bordeaux.
File image of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy The allegations relate to the financing of Mr Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign
The decision means he is still a suspect, but there is not yet the prima facie evidence to bring a formal charge, the BBC reports. The judge can call him back to answer further questions.
Mr Sarkozy avoided the media when he arrived at the heavily guarded courthouse in Bordeaux .
It is alleged that staff acting for Mrs Bettencourt gave 150,000 euros in cash to Mr Sarkozy's aides during his successful 2007 campaign to become president.
Individual campaign contributions in France are limited to 4600 euros.
Mrs Bettencourt's former accountant, Claire Thibout, alleges Mr Sarkozy's campaign treasurer at the time - Eric Woerth, who later became budget minister - collected the cash in person.
She also revealed in a leaked police interview that Mr Sarkozy, while mayor of Neuilly from 1983 to 2002, paid "regular" visits to the Bettencourt house.
The former president has dismissed as mere gossip claims that he took envelopes stuffed with cash.
