Nicolas Sarkozy found guilty of criminal conspiracy: What we know

"Sarkozy has been handed a five-year prison sentence after trial over finances from late Libyan leader Gaddafi. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty on Thursday of criminal conspiracy following a trial in which he was accused of accepting millions of euros in illegal payments from the late Libyan ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, between 2005 and 2007. The Paris Criminal Court sentenced him to five years in prison: it is the first time a former French president has received a prison sentence."

"Sarkozy, 70, was found not guilty of other charges, including illegal campaign financing and passive corruption. Sarkozy has always denied all the charges. He claims the charges against him were politically motivated by Gaddafi's inner circle in revenge for his backing of the antigovernment uprising in Libya in 2011. Here is what we know. Sarkozy is the right-wing, former president of France, who served from 2007 until 2012."

"In 2017, Sarkozy retired from active politics. From 2004 to 2007, he was the leader of the liberal-conservative Republicans party, then called the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). During that time, he was also minister of the interior in the government of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin under President Jacques Chirac. He won the 2007 presidential election with 53 percent of the vote, beating Segolene Royal of the Socialist Party (PS)."

Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy and sentenced to five years in prison for accepting millions of euros from Muammar Gaddafi between 2005 and 2007. The Paris Criminal Court's sentence marks the first time a former French president has received a prison term. Sarkozy, 70, was acquitted on other counts including illegal campaign financing and passive corruption. Sarkozy denies the charges and alleges they were politically motivated by Gaddafi's inner circle in revenge for his support of the 2011 antigovernment uprising in Libya. Sarkozy served as president from 2007 to 2012 and has faced multiple legal troubles and convictions.

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