There’s always a first time. «The appeal to the European Court is explained by the fact that the jurisprudence of the Court itself is contrary to what was established today by the French Supreme Court, which rejected the appeal of Nicolas Sarkozy»: said Patrice Spinosi, lawyer of the former French president, sentenced to 3 years in prison. «It is the first time in France that a person has been convicted solely on the basis of telephone communications with his lawyer, which were intercepted. Wiretapping between a lawyer and his client cannot be used against the client himself, it is a rule that is part of fundamental freedoms and which justifies our appeal.”
What’s happening
The French Court of Cassation today confirmed the conviction of former president Nicolas Sarkozy in his trial for corruption and influence peddling, the first definitive ruling against the former president, who has other open court cases. The court did not change the measures taken against Sarkozy, who maintained a three-year suspended sentence and will avoid prison for another year, provided he agrees to submit to electronic surveillance. The measure also entails political disqualification for three years.
What does French law provide?
The French judiciary therefore considers it proven that Sarzoky, convicted at first instance in 2021 and on appeal in 2023, exploited his position to try to obtain information on a judicial investigation concerning him. The intermediaries, lawyer Thierry Herzog and former judge Gilbert Azibert, were also convicted. The Court of Cassation concluded that it was not possible to demonstrate the bias of the judges in the previous trial and ruled out the suppression of the evidence of the wiretaps which brought the entire political-judicial scheme to light.
Sarkozy against
The former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, definitively sentenced today to 3 years of imprisonment, one without parole (to be served with an electronic bracelet) stated that he was not “decided to accept the profound injustice” of the decision, and wanted to “reaffirm the his absolute innocence.” «I am not determined to accept the profound injustice done to me» wrote the former head of state on absolute innocence.” “I will take responsibility and face all the consequences,” added the former president.
What is the Bismuth case
The case is known as Bismuth, the name Sarkozy used for his confidential contacts.
The former conservative president, at the Elysée from 2007 to 2012, husband of the singer and actress Carla Bruni, was found guilty of having had a corruption pact with a senior magistrate of the Supreme Court starting from 2014 with his long-time lawyer because he news passed on about another case in which he is involved, the so-called Bettancourt affair. In exchange, according to the judges, he was promised an honorary position in the principality of Monaco. But Sarkozy reacted immediately on favored by life from many points of view.”
Last updated: Wednesday 18 December 2024, 5.54pm
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