Sarkozy in Court: Gaddafi's Dark Deal 💰🔥

World News

Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s former president, will face a new trial on appeal concerning allegations that he sought Libyan campaign funding. Starting March 16th, a Paris court will hear the case following a lower court’s guilty verdict against him in September, a ruling that found him guilty of attempting to secure financial support from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya during his 2007-2012 time as president. He was initially sentenced to five years in prison, but after serving only 20 days due to a judge’s order, he was released from La Santé prison. Immediately following his release, Sarkozy appealed the decision, but the appeals court upheld the original conviction, deeming it “exceptional in its gravity.” The case, known as the “Libyan case,” centers around accusations that Sarkozy’s aides, acting on his behalf, made a deal with Gaddafi in 2005. Prosecutors allege that Gaddafi offered financial support in exchange for France’s assistance in repairing his damaged international reputation, particularly after the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and the 1989 Niger plane crash. While the court convicted Sarkozy of criminal conspiracy related to the plan, it did not find evidence that he personally received or used the funds for his campaign. This trial represents the latest in a series of legal challenges Sarkozy has faced since losing his bid for a second term in 2012.