Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Trial for Corruption

Sarkozy was suspected of using secret donations from Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential campaign.

File photo of Nicolas Sarkozy. 

(Photo: AP)

Accused of corruption, trying to bribe a judge and influence peddling, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be going on trial on Monday, 23 November. Sarkozy’s trial will be a landmark case in France, as he will the first ex-President in modern France to appear in court, reported BBC.

If found guilty, Sarkozy could reportedly face up to ten years in jail and a fine of a million euros. Others on trial include the former French president’s lawyer Thierry Herzog and Senior Judge Gilbert Azibert.

Due to COVID-19, however, there are likely to be uncertainties about the trial dates, reported many publications.

Sarkozy, who was in office from 2007-12, was suspected of using secret donations from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential campaign. Following these allegations, calls between him and his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, were recorded between 2013-14 by investigators. During these calls, Sarkozy and Herzog discussed Judge Gilbert Azibert. Prosecutors allege that Sarkozy offered to help Azibert get an important promotion in return for an insider’s help.

Nicolas Sarkozy has, however, denied any wrongdoing.

The three men were charged in 2014 but the trial was postponed due to successive appeals in the years that followed. It is now expected to wrap up by 10 December.