Former French President Sarkozy Sentenced to Five Years in Jail for Criminal Conspiracy, Becomes First Ex-French Leader Imprisoned
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the Former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy over attempts to secure campaign funds from Libya, marking a dramatic downfall for the conservative leader who governed France from 2007 to 2012.
OTN News further reports as gathered that the verdict makes Sarkozy the first post-war French president to face imprisonment, a ruling that stunned both allies and critics.
The sentence, harsher than many had anticipated, will take effect within weeks, with prosecutors expected to summon him by October 13 to confirm the start of his jail term.
Visibly shaken as he exited the courtroom, Sarkozy denounced the decision as “scandalous,” insisting on his innocence.
“If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high,” he told reporters, flanked by his wife, model and singer-songwriter Carla Bruni.
“I will not apologise for something I didn’t do. What happened today is of extreme gravity for the rule of law and the trust one can have in the justice system.”
OTN News observes from the information gathered that Sarkozy was convicted for his role in efforts by close aides to solicit funds from Libya’s late dictator Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign.
While the Paris court acquitted him of corruption and receiving illegal campaign financing, it ruled that he engaged in criminal conspiracy between 2005 and 2007, before assuming the presidency.
The court emphasised that there was no direct evidence Sarkozy struck a deal with Gaddafi or that Libyan funds directly reached his campaign coffers. However, it noted that the timing and opaque financial routes supported the finding of conspiracy.
“We were shocked (by the sentence) because when we started hearing the decision being read out, we thought his innocence would be recognised,” Sarkozy’s lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois said.
“We hope the appeals court will see things more clearly and will recognise his innocence.” Dorrois added.
Furthermore, authorities have not disclosed where Sarkozy will serve his sentence, though legal experts suggest Paris’s historic La Santé prison, once home to notorious figures such as Carlos the Jackal and former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, is the most likely destination.
“It’s the prison best suited to welcome a profile such as his,” said prison guard union representative Wilfried Fonck.
Subsequently, Sarkozy has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he never sought or accepted illegal campaign financing from Libya. His conviction, however, cements a striking reversal of fortune for a leader once at the heart of European politics, now facing jail time for actions tied to one of the most controversial episodes of his career.
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