Former president Nicolas Sarkozy was being held for questioning by a French court on Tuesday over allegations of involvement in an attempt to influence a judicial procedure concerning him.
A spokeswoman for Mr Sarkozy said he had gone to the anti-corruption court in Nanterre on the outskirts of Paris to answer questions from the judge in the case, in which he denies any wrongdoing.
French media reported he was formally placed under arrest, an unprecedented step for a former president that would allow judges to hold him for up to 24 hours. His lawyer and another advocate involved in the case have been under arrest for questioning since Monday.