A Paris court convicted ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy of criminal conspiracy in a campaign financing case linked to Moammar Gadhafi, adding to his history of corruption convictions.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was on Thursday convicted of criminal conspiracy in a high-profile corruption trial tied to the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Judges in Paris delivered the verdict, though sentencing is expected later in the day. Sarkozy could face up to seven years in prison.
The court cleared Sarkozy of passive corruption and other illegal financing charges but upheld allegations of conspiracy. Prosecutors argued that Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign received illicit cash contributions from Gadhafi through Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine. Takieddine, who claimed to have delivered €5 million in cash, died Tuesday in Beirut.
Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, is also facing accusations of pressuring witnesses. Eleven others, including ex-chief aide Claude Gueant, former campaign finance head Eric Woerth, and former minister Brice Hortefeux, are standing trial.
This conviction adds to Sarkozy’s legal troubles. The former leader, in office from 2007 to 2012, has already been found guilty in two other corruption cases and stripped of the Legion of Honor.