French police searched Nicolas Sarkozy's offices and home Tuesday, July 3 as part of their probe into suspected illegal financing of his successful 2007 presidential election campaign, his lawyer said, according to AFP.

Magistrates are investigating claims that staff for Liliane Bettencourt, heiress to the L'Oreal cosmetics empire and France's richest woman, gave envelopes stuffed with cash to Sarkozy aides to finance the campaign.

The right-winger, who has denied any wrongdoing, lost his presidential immunity from prosecution on June 15 and may now face questioning in a slew of legal probes into corruption and campaign financing violations.

Around 10 financial crimes police officers accompanied investigating magistrate Jean-Michel Gentil in the raid on Sarkozy's home and on offices he has recently rented in Paris, a source close to the enquiry said.