Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted of criminal conspiracy in connection with receiving illicit funding from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris criminal court acquitted Sarkozy of additional charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, has asserted that the case is politically motivated, with accusations indicating that he utilized Gaddafi’s funds to finance his 2007 election campaign.
The prosecution argued that Sarkozy promised to assist Gaddafi in managing his reputation in Western nations in exchange for financial support. Judge Nathalie Gavarino noted that Sarkozy permitted close aides to approach Libyan officials to secure funding for his campaign. However, the court concluded there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that Sarkozy benefited directly from any illegal financial contributions. Sentencing for Sarkozy is anticipated later today.
The investigation into these claims originated in 2013, following allegations made by Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s son, who accused Sarkozy of accepting millions for his campaign. In 2014, Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who had connections between France and the Middle East, asserted that he had documentation supporting claims that Sarkozy’s campaign was extensively financed by Tripoli, continuing even after he assumed the presidency.
Additionally, Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, was charged last year with concealing evidence related to the Gaddafi case and colluding to commit fraud, allegations she denies. Since his electoral defeat in 2012, Sarkozy has been involved in multiple criminal investigations. He has also appealed a February 2024 ruling that found him guilty of overspending on his 2012 campaign and subsequently attempting to cover it up, resulting in a one-year sentence with six months suspended. In 2021, he became the first former French president to receive a custodial sentence for attempting to bribe a judge.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp98kepmj9lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss