Nicolas Sarkozy, 71, is accused of having struck a secret deal with Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in the run-up to the 2007 presidential election in which the latter would help him fund his campaign. In exchange, Sarkozy would help restore Gaddafi’s international image after Tripoli was blamed for bombing a plane over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, as well as another over Niger in 1989, killing hundreds of passengers.
Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying the allegations against him are politically motivated.
Read more'I'm innocent': Former president Sarkozy challenges conviction over alleged Libya funding
The three prosecutors leading the case are expected to announce their sentencing requests later Wednesday. They have asked the judges to find Sarkozy guilty on all counts, including corruption and the illegal financing of Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential bid – which he won.
In September last year, a lower court found the right-wing politician guilty on criminal conspiracy charges but acquitted him of corruption and personally accepting illegal campaign financing.
The case saw Sarkozy become modern France’s first president to have gone to prison. He served 20 days before he was released pending the appeal.
The appeal trial is set to run until June 3, with a verdict expected on November 30. If convicted, Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison. If that happens, his last resort will be to appeal to France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation.
Sarkozy has faced a series of legal issues since leaving office and has already received two definitive convictions in other cases.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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