Ex-French President Sarkozy Sentenced In Libya Cash Scandal: Inside The Gaddafi Money Trail | World News
New Delhi: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years of imprisonment on Thursday, on his allegations that he demanded campaign funds from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during his 2007 Presidency. According to Associated Press, the court was acquitted for three additional charges, including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing and hiding public funds.
Sarkozy, 70-year-old, took part in court with his wife, singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, while three adults were present to witness the decision.
Case
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The case focuses on a plan where Sarkozy’s assistants claimed funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic goodness between 2005-2007. Prosecutors described the plan as a “corruption agreement ile with the Gaddafi regime.
The court determined that Sarkozy allowed Libya to receive financial support from Libya for the 2007 campaign, but could not confirm that any libian money was really used. French laws allow convictions for such corrupt plans, even if the funds are never taken.
The accusation of the Criminal Association is sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison. Sarkozy was cleared of other major charges.
Former ministers Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, who were two closest assistants, were also guilty of the Penalty Association, but was acquitted of other charges. Sarkozy’s campaign for his campaign for cash from Tripoli businessman Ziad Takieddine, died in Beirut during the hearing. Later, he withdrew the previous statements implying Sarkozy and launched a separate investigation into his potential witness tamper.
Track of money
Saga dates back to 2011, when Libya and Gaddafi clearly accept Sarkozy’s campaign. According to Al Jazeera, the French news organization MediaPart’s 2012 investigation report, then said to be probable by the court for a 50 million € financing agreement allegedly said the Libyan intelligence grade.
Inspectors examined cash deliveries, fake documents and trips to Libya by Sarkozy’s assistants, open sea accounts and other financial maneuvers between 2005-2007.
Sarkozy constantly refused all mistakes by calling the case politically motivating.
During his presidency, he helped to rehabilitate Libya on the international stage, invited Gaddafi to Paris in 2007 and later supported NATO’s intervention during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.
A legal storm that never ends
This conviction contributes to a number of legal difficulties for Sarkozy. In 2014, he was convicted of corruption and influenced the selling process and took time under electronic monitoring.
In 2012, he was found guilty of illegal campaign financing, as he exceeded the limits of expenditure during the failed re -election proposal, and the appeal is still waiting.
Sarkozy also lost the Legion of Honor after a previous conviction.
The Libyan Cash Case emphasizes the permanent shadow of Gaddafi period agreements and one of the most controversial modern leaders of France, complex, decades of financial and political web.
