PARIS, March 14 (Xinhua) -- French presidential contender Francois Fillon was put under formal investigation on Tuesday morning over his wife's fake job allegation, according to local reports.
"The indictment took place on Tuesday morning, and the hearing was brought forward in order to ensure that it would take place under peaceful conditions," Antonin Levy, one of Fillon's defense lawyers was quoted as saying by local media.
The conservative nominee for the French presidential election was originally set to be questioned by investigating magistrates on March 15.
Fillon, 63, has denied wrongdoing in the allegations that a French newspaper brought forward that his wife and two children had received hundreds of thousands of euros for jobs they might not have done.
Despite a campaign in trouble due to continued loss of public support, the former prime minister clung on, stressing that "no one can prevent me from being a candidate."
Portraying himself as an honest and morally irreproachable politician, he previously said he would step down if he were put under formal investigation.
