The former chairman and chief executive of French media-to-telecoms group Vivendi Universal has been taken into French police custody as part of an inquiry into suspected stock manipulation.
Mr Jean-Marie Messier's lawyer confirmed in a statement today that Mr Messier went before the police but described this as a procedural step and said Mr Messier in March had asked to be investigated to explain his actions and defend associates.
"He is being held by the financial brigade on the instructions of judge Henri Pons," said a judicial source, adding that Mr Messier's detention was expected to last 24 hours but could be extended to 48 hours.
The financial brigade is the branch of the police specialising in white-collar crime.
Prosecutors are investigating whether French stock market rules were violated when Vivendi Universal purchased 21 million of its own shares in the wake of the September 11th, 2001, attacks in the United States.
Vivendi declined to comment on the matter.
The prosecutors' move is the latest in a series of setbacks for Mr Messier, who was forced out as Vivendi chief in July 2002 after overseeing an acquisition spree that left the company saddled with debt and short of cash.