Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of corruption and abuse of power.
He has been sentenced to three years in prison, one of which he will serve under house arrest with an electronic bracelet. The court determined that in 2014, Sarkozy, through his lawyer Thierry Herzog, made a corrupt “pact” with judge Gilbert Azibert. In exchange for assisting Azibert in obtaining a position in Monaco, the judge provided Sarkozy with information regarding an investigation into his campaign financing.
All three, including Herzog, received equal sentences and a ban on professional activities. The Court of Cassation upheld the ruling. Sarkozy plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that evidence obtained through wiretapping was unlawful.
In January 2024, a new trial will begin against Sarkozy over allegations of Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign.
