Paris, Sept 25 (AP) — A Paris court reached a verdict on Thursday, finding former French President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty on certain charges while acquitting him on others related to the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.
The court is currently elaborating on its ruling and has yet to announce a sentence for the 70-year-old Sarkozy, a decision expected later on Thursday. Sarkozy retains the right to appeal this guilty verdict, which would delay any sentence until the appeal is resolved.
Prosecutors have proposed a seven-year prison term for Sarkozy.
Sarkozy attended the court session with his wife, singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, while the courtroom was filled with journalists and spectators. He was seated in the front row alongside his three adult sons.
This verdict positions Sarkozy, who became president in 2007 but failed in his 2012 reelection bid, as the first former French leader found guilty of accepting illicit foreign funds for campaign purposes.
Throughout a three-month-long trial also involving 11 other defendants, including three former ministers, Sarkozy maintained his innocence.
Sarkozy's presidency has been marred by various legal challenges, yet he continues to wield influence in France's right-wing political landscape and in social circles, partially due to his marriage to Bruni-Sarkozy.
Alleged Libyan Financing — Allegations surfaced in 2011, claiming the Libyan government covertly funneled millions of euros into Sarkozy's 2007 campaign. Both a Libyan news agency and Gadhafi made these claims.
In 2012, French media outlet Mediapart released a purported Libyan intelligence memo citing a €50 million funding arrangement. Sarkozy called the document a forgery and initiated a lawsuit for defamation.
French investigators later indicated the memo was likely genuine, though no undeniable proof of financial transfer was presented during the trial.
Authorities examined numerous trips to Libya by individuals close to Sarkozy while he was interior minister, including his chief of staff.
Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine claimed in 2016 that he delivered cash-filled suitcases from Libya to France's Interior Ministry under Sarkozy, a statement he later rescinded.
This retraction is now being investigated separately for potential witness tampering, with charges filed against both Sarkozy and Bruni-Sarkozy for purportedly pressuring Takieddine. This case has not yet gone to trial.
Takieddine, among the co-defendants, passed away on Tuesday in Beirut at age 75. He had fled to Lebanon in 2020 and did not attend the trial.
Sarkozy was tried on multiple charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Prosecutors claim Sarkozy accepted what they dubbed a "corruption pact" with Gadhafi's government, benefiting improperly as a result.
Libya's long-standing leader, Gadhafi, was dethroned and killed in 2011 during an uprising that concluded his 40-year rule over the North African nation.
Sarkozy's Denial of a 'Plot' — The trial highlighted covert French engagements with Libya in the 2000s, when Gadhafi was trying to mend ties with Western states. Libya had previously been branded a pariah.
Sarkozy refutes these accusations, labeling them politically driven and reliant on counterfeited proof.
In court, he described the charges as a "plot" orchestrated by "liars and crooks," including the "Gadhafi clique."
He hinted these financial allegations were retribution for his prior advocacy as president for Gadhafi's ousting.
Sarkozy was among the foremost European leaders advocating for military intervention in Libya during the 2011 Arab Spring, which saw a wave of pro-democracy movements across the Arab world.
"How can one credit statements marked by the seal of revenge?" Sarkozy commented during the proceedings.
Legion of Honour Revocation — In June, Sarkozy's Legion of Honour, the country's highest decoration, was rescinded following a separate conviction.
He previously faced charges for attempting to bribe a magistrate for information related to another legal case involving him.
Sarkozy received a sentence to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for a year. A conditional release due to his age permitted him to remove it after just over three months.
Last year, Sarkozy was found guilty of illicitly financing his unsuccessful 2012 reelection campaign. It was alleged that he exceeded double the legal campaign spending limit, resulting in a one-year prison sentence, half of which was suspended.
Sarkozy has repudiated these assertions and is appealing the verdict in the Court of Cassation, the highest French appellate court. (AP)
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