Crystal Dike
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was on Thursday found guilty of criminal association in connection with alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign.
The Paris Criminal Court ruled that between 2005 and 2007, Sarkozy allowed close associates to seek financial support from the regime of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. However, he was cleared of charges of misappropriation of public funds and passive corruption.
Presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino said Sarkozy was guilty of complicity by permitting his inner circle to pursue Libyan funds, though not of the other alleged offenses.
Several of Sarkozy’s former allies were also convicted. His ex-campaign director, Claude Guéant, was found guilty of criminal association, passive corruption, passive influence peddling, forgery, and aggravated money laundering. Former minister Brice Hortefeux was convicted of criminal association and faces charges of aiding illegal campaign financing.
Three defendants — Saudi businessman Ahmed Salem Bugshan, businessman Édouard Ullmo, and former minister Éric Woerth — were acquitted.
Further rulings are expected in the coming weeks to determine Sarkozy’s final legal fate in the long-running case.