The 2012 presidential election case, in which Nicolas Sarkozy is involved, continues. The Criminal Court of Paris found the former French president guilty of illegal financing of an electoral campaign in 2012 in the context of the Bygmalion case.  As a result, the prosecution had requested a year's imprisonment on Thursday 30 September 2021, including six months suspended.

Following the announcement of the verdict, his lawyer announced that he would appeal. According to the court, his sentence will be adjusted to house arrest under electronic surveillance.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who was absent at the hearing, continued to organise meetings after being warned in writing of the risk of exceeding the legal limit, according to the explanation of Caroline Viguier, the president of the 11th correctional chamber of the Paris court.

According to this magistrate, this was not the former president's first campaign, he had experience as a candidate.

According to the prosecution, the cost of the campaign amounted to more than 42.8 million. This was almost double the legal limit at the time.

Nicolas denied everything

According to the prosecution, in 2012, during the election campaign for the re-election of Nicolas Sarkozy, who was the head of state at that time, the former president had done a meeting a day, American-style shows and spent a lot of money more than necessary.

Yet the former French president denied everything. "But the money was not in my campaign, otherwise it would have been seen," said Nicolas Sarkozy. There were false invoices and fictitious agreements, according to his testimony.

His lawyer, Gesche Le Fur, also defended him, saying that Sarkozy had not signed any estimates, he did not sign any invoices and he accepted all the restrictions that were asked of him. "He is far from being a hysterical, insatiable candidate," he continued.

Apart from imprisonment, Nicolas Sarkozy will also have to pay a fine of €3,750.

Santie

Photo Credit : Femme Actuelle

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