Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced by a court in Paris to 5 years in prison. The conviction concerns participation in a criminal collusion due to suspected illegal backing of the 2007 Libyan electoral run with money.
The court cleared the erstwhile French president of corruption charges and concealing fraudulent public funds, but was adamant about financing the 2007 election campaign.
According to the prosecutor's office, Sarkozy's run could have been supported by Muammar Gaddafi's government in exchange for helping to reconstruct Libya to global politics. Sarkozy was to be the “contractor” remaining in the “corruption conspiracy” with the Libyan leader.
The court acknowledged that funds from Libya did indeed go to France. Although large amounts for the run have not been proven to be transferred, Sarkozy was found to have tolerated the actions of his co-workers to get financial support from Libya.
Sarkozy announced the appeal, ensuring his innocence. He stressed that the judgement undermines trust in French justice. Regardless of the appeal, the erstwhile president will gotta appear at the D.A.'s office within a period to set a date for the sentence.
