Sarkozy Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison Over Funding Case

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after a Paris court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy linked to allegations that late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi financed his 2007 presidential campaign.

Thursday’s ruling makes Sarkozy, 70, the first modern French president to face imprisonment. The court ordered that he be taken into custody at a later date, giving prosecutors one month to notify him when to report to prison.

Although he is expected to appeal, the order remains in force pending the outcome of higher court proceedings. Sarkozy was also fined €100,000 ($117,000) and barred from holding public office.

Other Defendants Also Convicted

The case involved several high-profile figures. Businessman Alexandre Djouhri, accused of acting as an intermediary in the alleged scheme, received a six-year sentence and was ordered to be arrested immediately. Sarkozy’s close ally Claude Gueant was given six years but spared prison because of his health, while former minister Brice Hortefeux was sentenced to two years, which he can serve under electronic monitoring.

Presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino described the offences as being of “exceptional gravity” and said they were likely to erode public confidence in France’s institutions.

Limited Proof of Direct Funding

While Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy, the court acquitted him of corruption and accepting illegal campaign financing, stating that there was no proof Libyan funds were ultimately used for his campaign.

The former president has previously been convicted in two separate trials but managed to avoid incarceration, once serving his sentence under house arrest with an electronic tag. He may seek parole on account of his age even as the appeals process begins.

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