Patrice de Maistre who is the Financial Advisor of L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt was detained by the French police as they are investigating the finances of Bettencourt. The investigation has already generated a lot of controversy and it has embarrassed the senior functionaries in the Government of President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Labor Minister, Eric Woerth, who is an important part of the Sarkozy Government, is also being linked to this case. Patrice was detained by the police for the second time this week.

But he claimed that he is innocent and did not do anything inappropriate.

Legal experts claim that Patrice will have to reply to the testimony given by Labor Minister Eric Woerth and his role in handling illicit payments to the Presidential election campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy in the year
2007.

The investigation started after secretly recorded tapes revealed a conversation between Bettencourt and a Business Adviser where they were discussing ways of avoiding tax under French laws. It is expected that the latest round of questioning will focus on these recordings.

Investigators have also questioned Labor Minister Eric Woerth and his wife in this case. The Minister has also refuted any allegations and revealed that these allegations are a conspiracy to tarnish his image. His lawyer has also defended the Minister in this high profile case.