Former French president Jacques Chirac has been placed under official investigation in a second corruption probe.

The move is a further blow to Chirac, who has already been ordered to stand trial in a separate “graft” case.

Chirac’s office said in a statement, that after being questioned by a magistrate, he is formally under investigation, one step short of having charges laid against him.

The latest investigation centres on allegations that during his time as mayor of Paris in the 1990s, Chirac put seven political allies on the municipal payroll for jobs that did not exist.

Chirac’s office says, in both cases the former French leader wants the legal process to move quickly so it can be shown “that he has nothing to be reproached with”.

Chirac’s allies are eager to point out that neither case involves personal enrichment.

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