Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty by a Paris court of “criminal collaboration” charges in connection with allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign was illegally financed with money from the regime of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison, dealing a major blow to the political figure who has dominated the French scene for decades.
According to the court ruling, investigations have uncovered evidence that part of Sarkozy's electoral campaign was supported by funds illegally received from Libya, in violation of French laws on political financing. In addition to the former president, the court also found several of his close associates, including former ministers Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, guilty of involvement in the same scheme.
The case has attracted great attention not only because of Sarkozy's political weight, but also because of the dramatic circumstances surrounding it. Just a few days before the verdict was to be delivered, Ziad Takieddine, one of the key witnesses and suspected intermediary in the transfer of Libyan funds, died. His death was considered an unusual development, raising numerous questions and debates in the media.
This is not the first court case for Sarkozy. He has already been convicted in other trials for corruption and campaign finance violations, placing his political figure at the center of a series of legal scandals. The latest decision, however, because of the gravity of the charges and the international nature of the affair, is seen as the most serious in his political and legal career.
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