France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with corruption and influence peddling, French prosecutors said Wednesday, a dramatic move in a criminal probe that could wreck his hopes of a political comeback.

The decision came after Sarkozy was questioned for 15 hours, marking the first time a French ex-head of state had been taken into custody in a criminal investigation.

The right-wing leader had been detained at a police station in a Paris suburb over a suspected attempt to illegally influence judicial proceedings in one of a raft of colorful corruption cases he is implicated in.

After the lengthy questioning, the former president was taken in early Wednesday to appear before a judge, where he was "mis en examen" - put under formal investigation in what amounts to being charged, based on preliminary evidence - the prosecution said in a statement to AFP. He was then released while the investigation went ahead.

If convicted of the charges, Sarkozy could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Sarkozy's longtime lawyer Thierry Herzog and a magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, who were taken into custody a day earlier alongside another magistrate, were both charged with influence peddling in a late night court appearance, their respective lawyers said.