Appeal hearing opens in Sarkozy Libya campaign financing case

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will appear in court on Monday for an appeal hearing against his conviction for criminal conspiracy in a case involving alleged campaign financing from Libya.

Last year a court sentenced him to five years in prison, making him the first post-war French president to receive a custodial sentence. In October he was sent to La Santé prison in Paris, but after three weeks he was released under judicial supervision and barred from leaving France.

The case concerns allegations that Sarkozy’s successful 2007 presidential campaign may have been financed with millions of euros from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy denies the charges.

The judges said they had not proven a direct agreement with Gaddafi or that Libyan funds had reached the campaign. However, they found him guilty of conspiracy after concluding that his close associates had contacted figures in Libya to secure support.

Anti-corruption organisations Sherpa, Anticor and Transparency International France said on Friday that the fight against corruption is essential to protecting the rule of law and democracy. Sarkozy’s defence lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, declined to comment before the start of the appeal hearing.

(Reuters, Lud)