France investigates Sarkozy over contract with Russian insurer

Detectives seek to establish if former president was employed to lobby on behalf of the firm

The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a preliminary investigation for influence peddling in connection with a 3m (2.7) contract he signed with a Russian insurance company.

The rightwing politician reportedly received a first payment of 500,000 last year after being hired as a special adviser" to the Reso-Garantia group, owned by two Russian-Armenian billionaire brothers.