On Thursday, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted of criminal association over alleged Libyan financing tied to his 2007 presidential bid.
The Paris Criminal Court determined that Sarkozy allowed close allies to seek financial backing from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime between 2005 and 2007. However, he was acquitted of charges related to passive corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
Presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino ruled that Sarkozy was complicit by enabling his inner circle to pursue the Libyan funds, though the court found him not guilty of the other accusations.
Several of his former associates were also handed convictions. Claude Guéant, Sarkozy’s ex-campaign director, was found guilty of criminal association, passive corruption, influence peddling, forgery, and aggravated money laundering.
Former minister Brice Hortefeux was convicted of criminal association and faces charges of aiding unlawful campaign financing.
Meanwhile, three others, Saudi businessman Ahmed Salem Bugshan, businessman Edouard Ullmo, and ex-minister Eric Woerth were acquitted.
