"Sarkozy, who was in office from 2007 to 2012, is accused of accepting campaign contributions from the late Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi via Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine. Takieddine, the key accuser in the case, died on Tuesday in Beirut. He claimed he passed Sarkozy's chief of staff a total of 5 million ($6 million) in cash between 2006 and 2007."
"The case then went through a series of twists and turns as Takieddine retracted his accusation, then retracted his retraction. Accused alongside the Sarkozys are 11 other co-defendants. These include Sarkozy's former chief aide, Claude Gueant; chief of campaign financing, Eric Woerth; and former minister Brice Hortefeux. All the defendants deny the charges. The prosecution's case is based on the testimony of several former Libyan dignitaries, as well as trips to Libya taken by Gueant and Hortefeux, and notes belonging to former Libyan Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem, who was found dead in Vienna in 2012."
Judges in Paris are expected to deliver a verdict in a corruption trial alleging Nicolas Sarkozy accepted Libyan campaign contributions. The accusation centers on Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who claimed to have delivered 5 million euros in cash between 2006 and 2007 and who died in Beirut. Sarkozy and his wife face additional accusations of pressuring witnesses. Eleven co-defendants include Claude Gueant, Eric Woerth, and Brice Hortefeux. The defendants deny the charges. Prosecution evidence includes testimony from former Libyan officials, trips to Libya, and notes linked to former Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem. Sarkozy has prior convictions and lost the Legion of Honor.
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