Red –
The French Court of Cassation has sentenced former president Nicolas Sarkozy to 3 years in prison (one without parole and one with an electronic bracelet) for corruption of a magistrate and influence peddling. This is an unprecedented event in the country beyond the Alps, at least as regards crimes committed during the mandate at the Elysée.
Sarkozy spoke of “judicial persecution” and “violated rights”, but also said that “I will assume my responsibilities and face all the consequences”.
The basis of the accusations is the alleged Libyan financing of Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign, as per wiretaps on an unofficial telephone line, but above all the support given to his historic lawyer Thierry Herzog to place an acquaintance of his, Gilbert Azibert, in Monaco. In exchange, Sarkozy allegedly obtained from Azibert, then judge of the Court of Cassation, information covered by judicial secrecy on the “Bettencourt Affair”. In this case the judges ascertained both the crime of corruption and that of influence peddling.
