FILE – In this archive photo from Monday, November 11, 2019, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy attends a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Sarkozy faces a prison sentence in a verdict to be delivered on Thursday, September 30, 2021 on the financing of his electoral campaign in his unsuccessful candidacy for the 2012 re-election. Sarkozy, President of France from 2007 to 2012, vigorously denied the acts reprehensible during the May-June trial.
Thierry Herzog, lawyer for former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on the left, arrives for the verdict of the Bygmalion case at the Paris courthouse on Thursday, September 30, 2021. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will know on Thursday if he faces a second jail sentence when a court delivers its verdict on massive overspending for his 2012 re-election campaign.
Former president of the event company Bygmalion Guy Alves, on the right, and his lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve arrive for the verdict of the Bygmalion case at the courthouse in Paris, Thursday, September 30, 2021. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will know Thursday if he faces a second jail sentence when a court delivers its verdict on massive overspending for his 2012 re-election campaign.
FILE – In this archive photo from March 1, 2021, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in the Paris courtroom. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty on Thursday of illegally funding the election campaign of his 2012 re-election candidacy.
By SYLVIE CORBET and NICOLAS VAUX-MONTAGNY Associated Press
PARIS (AP) – Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was found guilty on Thursday and sentenced to one year of house arrest for illegal campaign financing of his unsuccessful 2012 re-election candidacy, will appeal the decision , said his lawyer.
The court said Sarkozy would be allowed to serve the one-year sentence at home wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, noted that the sentence corresponds to the maximum his client was faced with. He said he spoke with Sarkozy, who asked him to appeal.
“The verdict will not be binding” pending the appeal, he added.
Sarkozy, French president from 2007 to 2012, vigorously denied wrongdoing during the trial in May and June.
Sarkozy was not present at the Paris court for the judgment. He is accused of having spent nearly double the maximum legal amount of 22.5 million euros ($ 27.5 million) for the re-election candidacy he lost to socialist Francois Hollande.
The court said Sarkozy “knew” that the legal limit was in play and “willfully” failed to oversee the additional spending.
Thursday’s verdict comes after Sarkozy, 66, was convicted on March 1 of bribery and influence peddling in another case. He was sentenced to one year in prison, and two years suspended, in this case, but is free pending appeal.
