The Digest:
A Paris court has sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy tied to allegations that late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi helped fund his 2007 presidential campaign. Sarkozy, 70, becomes the first former French president in modern history to receive a jail term, though he was acquitted on charges of corruption and illegal campaign financing.
Key Points:
- Sarkozy was convicted of criminal association spanning 2005 to 2007.
- The court alleged Gaddafi provided millions in undeclared campaign support.
- He was cleared of passive corruption, illegal financing, and embezzlement.
- Sarkozy denounced the ruling as an “injustice” and vowed to appeal.
- He must pay a €100,000 fine and will remain detained during the appeal.
- This is his second conviction; he served a one-year term in 2021 via house arrest.
- The case exposed alleged secret deals between French politicians and Gaddafi.
- Sarkozy urged the French public to recognize the verdict as “hatred without bounds.”
Sources: TheCable Nigeria
