Ex-French President Sarkozy Found Guilty of Conspiracy in Gaddafi Funding Case

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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted of criminal conspiracy in connection with taking illicit funds from the late Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

The Paris criminal court, which delivered its ruling on Thursday, cleared the 70-year-old politician of other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, has consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting the case is politically motivated.

Court Ruling and Allegations

Judge Nathalie Gavarino ruled that Sarkozy allowed close aides to approach Libyan officials in pursuit of campaign financing for his 2007 election bid. Prosecutors alleged he accepted millions of Euros from Gaddafi in exchange for political favours, including efforts to help the Libyan leader shed his pariah status in the West.

However, the court found insufficient evidence directly linking Sarkozy to the illegal campaign funds. He is expected to be sentenced later today.

Origins of the Case

The investigation began in 2013 after Saif al-Islam, son of Gaddafi, accused Sarkozy of taking millions from his father. A year later, Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine—long a key middleman between France and the Middle East—claimed to have written proof that Tripoli financed Sarkozy’s campaign to the tune of €50 million (£43 million), with payments continuing after he assumed office.

Other Convictions

Several of Sarkozy’s close allies also faced charges. Former interior minister Claude Guéant was found guilty of corruption, while another ex-interior minister, Brice Hortefeux, was convicted of criminal conspiracy.

Sarkozy’s wife, the Italian-born former supermodel and singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, was charged last year with concealing evidence in the Gaddafi probe and associating with wrongdoers to commit fraud. She has denied the allegations.

Sarkozy’s Legal Troubles

Since leaving office in 2012, Sarkozy has been entangled in multiple criminal cases. He is currently appealing a February 2024 conviction for overspending on his failed re-election campaign and attempting to cover it up through a PR firm. He received a one-year sentence, with six months suspension.

In 2021, Sarkozy became the first former French president to be handed a custodial sentence after being found guilty of trying to bribe a judge. In December, an appeal court ruled he could serve the term under house arrest with an electronic tag instead of prison.

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