Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison for participating in a criminal conspiracy.
A Paris court found that while in office, Sarkozy conspired in a campaign funding scheme with the then-dictator of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi.
Sarkozy, who served from 2007 to 2012, maintains his innocence and has confirmed he will appeal.
Sarkozy
Sarkozy came into office at the 2007 presidential election, leading the centre-right party Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).
He retired from politics in 2017 and has since been convicted of two other corruption charges.
Earlier this year, French authorities revoked his Legion of Honour, the country’s highest award.
Allegations
Prosecutors accused Sarkozy of orchestrating an illegal arrangement with Gaddafi to receive millions of euros in funding for his presidential campaign.
It was alleged that Libyan operatives, including a convicted terrorist, transported the money to Paris in suitcases.
Paramilitary forces killed Gaddafi in 2011. In 2014, France24 published a report claiming Gaddafi had previously confirmed the conspiracy, saying: “It’s thanks to me that [Sarkozy] became president… We gave him the funds that allowed him to win.”
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The court ruled there was not enough evidence to prove Sarkozy personally executed the deal, nor to suggest the money ever reached his campaign.
However, it found sufficient evidence that Sarkozy had conspired to engage in “corruption at the highest possible level,” allowing his close political aides to liaise with Libyan officials between 2005 and 2007.
Sarkozy was prosecuted alongside 11 other defendants accused of involvement in the scheme, including former officials from his administration.
Sentence
Sarkozy faced four charges: hiding embezzled public money, corruption, illegal campaign financing, and criminal conspiracy.
His sentence relates to the criminal conspiracy charge. He was acquitted of the other three offences.
He will be taken into custody next month, regardless of whether or not he files an appeal.
Response
Following the ruling, Sarkozy spoke to the media outside court.
The 70-year-old said he maintains his innocence.
“I will not apologise for something I didn’t do... If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison, but with my head held high,” he said.
