The Paris court handed him five-year sentence, but cleared him of other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing.
Sarkozy, who maintains that the case is politically motivated, was accused of accepting millions of euros from Gaddafi in exchange for helping improve Libya's international image.
While the court found insufficient evidence to link Sarkozy directly to illegal campaign financing, Judge Nathalie Gavarino stated that Sarkozy allowed aides to reach out to Libyan officials for financial support.
The investigation, which began in 2013, was based on allegations from Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi's son, and Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who claimed to have proof of the funding. Takieddine alleged that the €50 million payments continued even after Sarkozy became president.
Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, was charged with hiding evidence related to the case and committing fraud, charges she denies. Since losing re-election in 2012, Sarkozy has faced multiple legal battles, including a 2024 ruling for overspending in his 2012 re-election campaign.
The former president, who was sentenced to one year in prison for bribing a judge in 2021, is expected to be sentenced in this case later today.
IGIHE
