Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case related to millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris criminal court acquitted him of all other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. This ruling means he will spend time in jail even if he launches an appeal, which Sarkozy says he intends to do. Speaking after Thursday's hearing, the 70-year-old, who was president from 2007-12, said the verdict was extremely serious for rule of law.
Sarkozy, who claims the case is politically motivated, was accused of using the funds from Gaddafi to finance his 2007 election campaign in exchange for helping Gaddafi combat his reputation as a pariah with Western countries. Judge Nathalie Gavarino stated that Sarkozy had allowed close aides to contact Libyan officials to obtain financial support for his campaign. However, the court ruled not enough evidence existed to conclude he benefited from illegal campaign financing. Alongside the prison sentence, he was also ordered to pay a fine of €100,000 ($117,000).
The courtroom gasped as the judge announced her decision. Sarkozy could be imprisoned in Paris soon, marking an unprecedented event for a former French president. What happened today... is of extreme gravity regarding the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system, he remarked outside the courthouse. If they want me to sleep in jail, I will do so; but I will do it with my head held high. The investigation into Sarkozy was launched in 2013, two years after Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi's son, accused Sarkozy of taking millions for his election bid. In subsequent legal ramifications, Sarkozy has also been found guilty of overspending on his 2012 campaign and attempting to bribe a judge. His wife, Carla Bruni, has faced charges related to the Gaddafi funding case, which she denies. Since losing the presidency in 2012, Sarkozy has been the subject of numerous criminal cases, making his conviction a notable chapter in contemporary French politics.
Sarkozy, who claims the case is politically motivated, was accused of using the funds from Gaddafi to finance his 2007 election campaign in exchange for helping Gaddafi combat his reputation as a pariah with Western countries. Judge Nathalie Gavarino stated that Sarkozy had allowed close aides to contact Libyan officials to obtain financial support for his campaign. However, the court ruled not enough evidence existed to conclude he benefited from illegal campaign financing. Alongside the prison sentence, he was also ordered to pay a fine of €100,000 ($117,000).
The courtroom gasped as the judge announced her decision. Sarkozy could be imprisoned in Paris soon, marking an unprecedented event for a former French president. What happened today... is of extreme gravity regarding the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system, he remarked outside the courthouse. If they want me to sleep in jail, I will do so; but I will do it with my head held high. The investigation into Sarkozy was launched in 2013, two years after Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi's son, accused Sarkozy of taking millions for his election bid. In subsequent legal ramifications, Sarkozy has also been found guilty of overspending on his 2012 campaign and attempting to bribe a judge. His wife, Carla Bruni, has faced charges related to the Gaddafi funding case, which she denies. Since losing the presidency in 2012, Sarkozy has been the subject of numerous criminal cases, making his conviction a notable chapter in contemporary French politics.
