Overview

• Judges found Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of allowing close aides to seek financial backing from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime between 2005 and 2007, while acquitting him of passive corruption and illegal campaign financing.
• The sentence includes immediate enforceability, a €100,000 fine and a five‑year ban from public office, with incarceration to proceed once the financial prosecutor notifies him.
• Former top aides Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux were convicted, while campaign treasurer Éric Woerth and other defendants were acquitted on specific charges.
• The court cited Libyan documents and records, agendas kept by banker Wahib Nacer, and testimony from former Libyan officials, including notes attributed to ex‑oil minister Shukri Ghanem.
• The ruling comes days after the death of key intermediary Ziad Takieddine, whose shifting accounts featured in the case, as Sarkozy denounced the verdict as a scandal and said he will appeal.