Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been definitively found guilty in a corruption and influence-peddling case and sentenced to three years in prison. According to the decision of the Court of Cassation in Paris, Sarkozy will serve two years on probation and one year under house arrest with an electronic bracelet. Additionally, Sarkozy is barred from running for election for three years.

As reported by the French media company RFI, such a verdict is unprecedented for a former head of state. The 69-year-old politician will now be summoned by a judge to implement the electronic bracelet ruling.

However, Sarkozy’s lawyer, Patrice Spinosi, stated that the former president intends to appeal his case to the European Court of Human Rights, maintaining his innocence.

Moreover, Sarkozy may avoid serving his sentence entirely, as he will turn 70 on January 28, which allows him to request early conditional release due to age.

The trial against Nicolas Sarkozy began in late November 2020. The politician was accused of attempting to bribe judge Gilbert Azibert to obtain confidential information about an investigation into donations from L’Oréal co-owner and billionaire Liliane Bettencourt, which were allegedly used to finance his 2007 presidential campaign.

Photo: @nicolassarkozy