Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to 5 years in prison

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives for his appeal trial on charges of corruption and influence peddling, at Paris courthouse, France, December 15, 2022. (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo)

A Paris court on Thursday sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison, ruling he will be incarcerated even if he appeals, after finding him guilty in his trial over alleged illegal campaign financing by Libya.

As per a report by Associated Press, the court found Sarkozy guilty of criminal association in a plot from 2005 to 2007 to fund his campaign with Libyan money in exchange for diplomatic favours. He was cleared of three other charges, including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of embezzled public funds.

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The 70-year-old will not be immediately jailed, with the date of his incarceration to be decided later, sparing him the spectacle of being led from court by police.