France’s Sarkozy on Trial for Corruption

Sarkozy sentenced to house arrest over illegal campaign finance

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NICOLAS Sarkozy on trial for corruption in ‘historic’ case for France.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to appear in a ‘historic’ trial for corruption and influence peddling.

The right-wing politician has been the subject of several corruption investigations for alleged serious offenses while leading France between 2007 and 2012. The current trial will focus on the ‘Bugging Affair’, in which he and his lawyer are accused of attempting to bribe a top magistrate. In exchange for information about another investigation into his affairs, Sarkozy is alleged to have offered a coveted job in Monaco to the magistrate.

Other accusations include the allegation that Sarkozy received over 50 million euro in campaign funding from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and that he profited from arms deals in Pakistan while President. He denies all charges, calling them ‘an insult to my intelligence’. Prosecutors say that Sarkozy has exhibited the behaviour of a ‘seasoned offender’ and accused his legal team of ‘paralysing’ court procedures with endless appeals.

He is the first former French President to stand trial for corruption, and the case has been described as ‘historic’ by the French media. Sarkozy has accused the National Financial Prosecution Office of political motives, as the body was established by his successor Francois Hollande.


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Oisin Sweeney

Oisin is an Irish writer based in Seville, the sunny capital of Andalucia. After starting his working life as a bookseller, he moved into journalism and cut his teeth as a reporter at one of Ireland's biggest news websites. Since joining Euro Weekly News in November, he has enjoyed covering the latest stories from Seville, Spain and further afield - with special interests in crime, cybersecurity, and European politics. Anyone who can pronounce his name first try gets a free cerveza...

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