Paris [France], January 7: The trial of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy on charges related to alleged Libyan funding of his successful 2007 presidential campaign began in Paris on Monday.
Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, is accused of accepting illegal campaign financing amounting to millions of euros from the regime of former Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi.
Sarkozy has always denied the allegations. The former president is on trial alongside 12 other defendants on charges of illegal campaign financing, misappropriation of public funds and bribery.
Among the co-defendants are former interior ministers Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, as well as former labour minister Éric Woerth. The charges are based in part on information provided by the French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who said he transported multiple suitcases containing several million euros, prepared by the Libyan regime, to the French Interior Ministry, which was then led by Sarkozy, at the end of 2006 or beginning of 2007.
Source: Qatar Tribune
