French court convicts former President Nicolas Sarkozy on corruption charges
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives for a hearing at his trial on corruption charges at Paris courthouse
A French court on Monday convicted former President Nicolas Sarkozy on charges of corruption and influence peddling, handing him a three-year prison sentence of which two years are suspended.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012 and remains influential among conservatives, was accused of offering to help a judge obtain a senior job in Monaco in exchange for inside information on an inquiry into his campaign finances.
Taking into account the two years suspended, the sentence of one year jail means it is unlikely Sarkozy will physically go to prison, a punishment that in France usually applies to jail terms of above two years
During his testimony,Sarkozysaid he was the victim of lies and denied ever committing an act of corruption.
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
‘Now is the time to end the war’: Trump to host Zelensky, Netanyahu amid global conflicts
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
Sadie Sink's leaked Spider-Man: Brand New Day clip fuels fresh Jean Grey speculation
)
Putin rambles in TV speech after cancelling Navy Day parade fearing an attack by Ukraine
)
Six of the world's top 10 AI models are now Chinese and they're winning on price, not just rank
)
RSS backed Jantar Mantar student protest? Mohan Bhagwat's 'question authority' remark resurfaces
)
'Nobody tells me what to sell': Trump rejects Netanyahu's objections to Turkey F-35 deal
)
India aims for 200-ship Navy by 2035 to counter China and Pakistan | Gravitas
)
ChatGPT invoked God, told pastor not to worry about his symptoms. Then pulmonary embolism hit
)
'Islamic Republic will never make a deal with the US': Iran deputy speaker echoes Araghchi’s remark
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
'Very unimpactful': Trump downplays Russian support for Iran, promises to 'ask Putin' about Zelensky's claims
)
Delhi Police issues BIG statement on viral 'don't leave national capital without permission' notice | FACT CHECK
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
China deploying advanced fighter jets closer to India's northern frontier
)
Who will benefit from Kapil Sibal's ₹1 crore legal aid fund for NEET protesters? This is what we know
)
Giant iceberg flips violently near Greenland exposing its underside - 'I didn't know they could do that'
)
'We have far more than we need': Trump rejects US munitions shortage claims. But what do reports say?
)
Google ends Play Services Support, likely to stop these Android phones from downloading apps & games
)
Asim Munir eyes defence deal with Qatar & Turkiye after Kuwait as Pakistan seeks investments | Gravitas
)
‘Kill Melania, Barron’: Why is IRGC-linked media outlet urging ‘freedom fighters’ to assassinate Trump’s family? WATCH
)
BTS' Jungkook opens up about attending Stray Kids' concert, praises Bang Chan in live broadcast
)
'Broader struggle for democracy...': Greta Thunberg joins Indian students protest in London - What she said
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Russia drops 3-tonne Glide bombs on Ukraine
)
NEET aspirant ends her life in Maharashtra after falling 11 marks short of cut-off
)
Netanyahu to present Trump with fresh intel on Iran's SECRET 'Pickaxe Mountain' nuclear site: Report
)
'Not in our DNA': Iran denies seeking US negotiations, rejects Trump's remarks
)
3,000 years ago, humanity spoke thousands of languages — then fell silent. Where did they all go?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the specialized paint on an S-400 costs thousands of dollars per truck
)
Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband Ojani Noa claims he confronted Sean 'Diddy' Combs over alleged affair
"Never. Never abused my influence, alleged or real," he told the court in December. "What right do they have to drag me through the mud like this for six years? Is there no rule of law?"
Prosecutors alleged Sarkozyoffered to secure a plum job in Monaco for judge Gilbert Azibert in return for confidential information about an inquiry into accusations that he had accepted illegal payments from L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt for his 2007 presidential campaign.
This came to light, they say, while they were wiretapping conversations betweenSarkozyand his lawyer Thierry Herzog afterSarkozyleft office, in relation to another investigation into alleged Libyan financing of that 2007 campaign.
Azibert, at the time a magistrate at France's top appeals court for criminal cases and well-informed on the Bettencourt inquiry, did not get the job in Monaco.
Prosecutors are seeking the same punishment for Azibert and Herzog, who are on trial alongsideSarkozy.
Sarkozy's predecessor, Jacques Chirac, is the only other president under France's post-war Fifth Republic to have faced trial after leaving office.
Chirac, who died in 2019, was found guilty in 2011 of presiding over a system of ghost jobs in Paris City Hall for political cronies when he was mayor of the capital. Handed a two-year suspended sentence, Chirac escaped serving time in jail.