Donnedieu de Vabres, 57, culture minister between 2004 and 2007, was serving as a senior advisor to then defence minister Francois Leotard in 1994 when a suspect contract to sell French submarines to Pakistan was signed.
Police sources told AFP that de Vabres had been remanded in custody overnight and was due to be questioned on Wednesday by the investigating magistrates probing the "Karachi Affair".
The contract has since become the focus of a graft probe, amid allegations that kickbacks from the deal were used to fund Edouard Balladur's failed 1995 presidential campaign, for which Sarkozy acted as spokesman.
There have also been claims that a 2002 bombing in Karachi that killed 11 French naval engineers was carried out by Pakistani agents in revenge for the cancellation of bribes secretly promised to officials.
Sarkozy has denied any knowledge of illegal contributions to Balladur's campaign, but the long-running investigation has tainted his preparations to stand for re-election next year with scandal.
Three more people have already been charged with graft in the investigation: alleged middleman Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine and two former close political aides to Sarkozy.
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I think that France lacks transparency-the death of so many innocent should not be taken lightly. International corruption kills a country-like pakistan is already submerged in corruption.
On this score, the PM of Malaysia was implicated in corruption charges when malaysia bought submarines [that could not submerge then] surrounded by controvesy and murder.I am wondering wthere the Karachi connection and that in Malaysia is connected.
Zardari's chateau in France-could there be any connection to the Karachi affair?
a 2002 bombing in Karachi that killed 11 French naval engineers was carried out by Pakistani agents in revenge for the cancellation of bribes secretly promised to officials. . Pakistan has always had a record of corruption -- but killing innocent engineers because your leaders didn't get their bribes is a bit much. BTW - if the French can investigate giving Bribes why can't you investigate receiving bribes?
A defence minister called Leotard involved in a Karachi affair! . The stuff headlines are made of :)
more problem for mr zardari