Overview

• Judges ruled he allowed close aides to seek Libyan financial support between 2005 and 2007, while acquitting him of corruption and direct illegal campaign funding.
• The court also imposed a €100,000 fine, after prosecutors had sought seven years and cast him as the architect of a pact with Muammar Gaddafi.
• Former chief of staff Claude Guéant was sentenced to six years and ex‑minister Brice Hortefeux to two years, while campaign treasurer Éric Woerth was acquitted.
• Evidence cited included testimonies from former Libyan officials, aides’ trips to Tripoli, money transfers and notes attributed to ex‑oil minister Shukri Ghanem.
• Sarkozy denied wrongdoing, called the ruling an injustice and said he will appeal, as key accuser Ziad Takieddine’s recent death complicated the case’s narrative.