France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy is standing trial over allegations he received millions of euros in illegal financing from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007 presidential bid.
In arguably the largest of Mr Sarkozy’s several scandals, the 69year-old is charged with passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association. Investigators allege he made a corrupt pact with the Libyan government. At issue is a murky affair alleged to involve Libyan spies, a convicted terrorist, arms dealers and allegations Gaddafi provided to the Sarkozy campaign with millions of euros shipped to Paris in suitcases.
Mr Sarkozy’s lawyer said the case against the former president was a fabrication and that there had been no Libyan financing of the campaign.
This story is from the January 07, 2025 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the January 07, 2025 edition of The Independent.
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