MOSCOW, October 7 (RAPSI) - A probe into allegations that former French president Nicolas Sarkozy had exploited nonagenarian L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt for campaign funds has been dropped, the BBC reported Monday, citing French media.

On March 21, 2013, Sarkozy was charged with exploiting Bettencourt. The investigators believe that the former president may have taken advantage of Bettencourt's ill health to convince her to donate up to 4 million ($5 million) in cash to his UMP party.
Bettencourt is now 90.

If convicted, Sarkozy could have faced up to three years in jail, a fine of 375,000 and a five-year ban from public office. According to earlier media reports, prosecutors considered the investigators' arguments concerning Nicolas Sarkozys alleged guilt to be inconclusive.

According to the BBC, Sarkozy is no longer on the list of those set to appear in court over what has been dubbed the Bettencourt affair.