Nicolas Sarkozy: Several years in prison for ex-president - house arrest could save him from prison

A Paris court has found ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy guilty in a trial.

He was convicted of corruption.

• Nicolas Sarkozy is still considered a dazzling figure in France *.

• His name was recently fraught with legal affairs

  (see first report).

• On March 1, the decision was made in one of the trials - Sarkozy is guilty

  (see update from March 1, 2:06 p.m.).

Update from March 1, 3:33 p.m.:

Nicolas Sarkozy wants to appeal against his conviction for bribery and illicit influence.

This was announced by his lawyer Jacqueline Laffont in Paris on Monday.

The verdict was "extremely harsh" and "unjustified," said Laffont.

The 66-year-old Sarkozy had previously been sentenced by a court in Paris to three years' imprisonment, including two years probation.

Nicolas Sarkozy: Several years in prison for ex-president - house arrest could save him from prison

Update from March 1, 3:33 p.m.:

A Paris criminal court found the 66-year-old former French President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of bribing a senior judicial officer and illegally influencing the judiciary on Monday

(see update from March 1, 2:06 p.m.)

.

Sarkozy is the first former post-war president convicted of corruption in France.

The court stayed under the prosecution's request for four years in prison, two of which were suspended.

Sarkozy's lawyers had pleaded for acquittal.

The former Conservative President denied the allegations and previously called the process a "scandal".

The case dates back to 2014, around two years after Sarkozy's term as head of state ended.

The judges are convinced that he bribed an attorney general at the Supreme Court to obtain information about an ongoing investigation against him in another matter

(see initial report).

Nicolas Sarkozy: The ex-president of France will probably not have to go to jail

Update from March 1, 2:46 p.m.:

After the verdict against ex-President Sarkozy

(see update from March 1, 2:16 p.m.) it

is now known: The 66-year-old will probably not have to go to jail because the sentence, according to dpa, is at home can be served under electronic supervision.

As AFP also reports, the court has decided not to issue an arrest warrant.

Update from March 1, 2:06 p.m.:

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (66) has been sentenced to three years in prison for bribery and illicit influence.

Of these, two years will be suspended, as the French news agency AFP reported on Monday from the Paris Palace of Justice.

First report from March 1st, 11.02 a.m.:

Paris - final spurt in the corruption process against Nicolas Sarkozy.

The verdict against France's ex-president is to be announced this Monday in Paris.

The prosecution calls for four years in prison for the 66-year-old - two of them on probation.

He is said to have bribed a Supreme Court judge.

Sarkozy denies the allegations.

The Conservative ruled the Élysée Palace from 2007 to 2012.

With him, a former president has to answer for corruption for the first time in post-war France.

Sarkozy's predecessor Jacques Chirac was sentenced to a suspended sentence of two years for embezzlement and breach of trust during his time as Paris mayor - but the prosecution pleaded for acquittal at the time.

Sarkozy continues to be popular in France - rumors of a political comeback

Sarkozy is still considered a leadership icon by numerous supporters of the civil rights, although he no longer has any offices.

Again and again there is speculation in France about his possible comeback - if he does manage to solve his legal problems.

The politician is accused of having tried in 2014 through his legal counsel to learn investigative secrets from a then attorney general at the Court of Cassation.

In return, Sarkozy is said to have offered to support the lawyer in applying for a post in Monaco.

The allegations are based on the use of tapped phone calls between the politician and lawyer Herzog.

There had been a heated argument about the legality of this wiretapping.

France's interior minister jumps at Sarkozy: "Was a very great president"

France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had given Sarkozy his support in December.

“This is a man who has served the republic a lot,” Darmanin said on Thursday on Franceinfo news channel.

“I think he was a very great president.” The interior minister also has his political roots in the conservative camp.

Sarkozy has long been targeted by the judiciary.

From mid-March he will have to answer for illegal campaign donations.

As it became known in January, the French judiciary is now also investigating Sarkozy's advisory activities for a Russian insurance company, reported the

AFP

news

agency

.

His environment has therefore stated that Sarkozy's advisory activities comply with legal and professional ethical rules.

(AFP / dpa / frs)

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