Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been put under a formal probe on Wednesday on suspicion of using his influence to block an investigation on his victorious 2007 election campaign, the prosecutor's office said.

The probe is the latest issue that shot down Sarkozy's attempt to return to office on 2017 after he lost in the 2012 election to François Hollande. The 59-year-old politician maintained his innocence in all the allegations thrown against him, according to a Reuters report.

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The French court is looking into suspicions that Sarkozy leveraged his influence to obtain leaked information on an investigation of alleged irregularities in the 2007 election. The prosecutor's office said the conservative politician is suspected of corruption, influence peddling, and benefitting from leaked "professional secrets."

Investigating magistrates informed Sarkozy of the probe on early Wednesday after a 15-hour interrogation on corruption allegations, The Daily Mail said. This marked the first time that a French president was taken into custody.

A few hours before Sarkozy was taken into custody, his attorney and a judge were also placed under formal investigation in connection to the case. The two were also suspected of influence peddling.

When a suspect is placed under a formal probe, it means there is existing "serious or consistent evidence" that can implicate him or her in a criminal act. Influence peddling is punishable by law with a fine amounting to $682,000 (€500,000) and a maximum jail time of five years.

Sarkozy had stepped down from his position in June 2012, losing his immunity from legal prosecution one month later. This was the second time that the ex-president was placed under a judicial investigation.

In 2013, Sarkozy was also placed under a formal probe but the case was later on dropped.

Meanwhile, Sarkozy's supporters were quick to jump to his defense. Some suggested that his arrest was politically motivated, as the Left-wing officials are just seeking to humiliate him.

TagsNicolas Sarkozy, formal investigation, influence peddling