Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison after a Paris court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy with Libya to secure illegal funds for his 2007 presidential campaign. The verdict was delivered on Thursday.

Although the court did not order him jailed immediately, it stated that the date of incarceration will be set later, sparing him from being escorted out in handcuffs. Surprisingly, the judge confirmed that Sarkozy must serve the sentence even if he appeals.

Sarkozy Guilty of Criminal Conspiracy

The court ruled that Sarkozy took illegal funds from Libya between 2005 and 2007. In particular, he and his aides sought money from Muammar Gaddafi’s government in exchange for diplomatic favors.

However, the court cleared him of three other charges:

• Passive corruption

• Illegal campaign financing

• Concealment of embezzled public funds

The judges explained that they could not confirm if Libyan money was directly used in his campaign.

Close Aides Also Convicted

Sarkozy’s former ministers, Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, were found guilty of criminal association. They actively sought Libyan funds, while the court concluded Sarkozy was not directly involved in handling the money.

Courtroom Appearance

Sarkozy attended the hearing with his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Throughout the three-month trial, he has denied all charges.

After winning in 2007, Sarkozy lost his reelection in 2012. Since then, he has faced multiple legal battles.

Sarkozy Reacts to Verdict

Immediately after the ruling, Sarkozy criticized the decision, calling it an “extremely serious” threat to the rule of law in France.

He added that the verdict undermines public trust in the justice system. Moreover, he reaffirmed his innocence and promised to appeal, stating: “I will fight right after until the end to prove my innocence in this affair.”

Judge’s Explanation

The judge said Sarkozy allowed aides to contact Libyan officials to obtain campaign funds. Furthermore, the court noted that even if the funds were not used, French law considers attempting to arrange illegal funding a crime.