Sarkozy, guilty of being a member of the criminal association for financing Libya

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of several crimes related to the financing of the 2007 campaign in Libya, including membership of the criminal association.

Sarkozy, on the other hand, has been acquitted of embezzlement of public funds and breach of the electoral code, for which he was also prosecuted.

The Paris Correctional Court must determine the sentence it imposes at the end of the morning.

The judges have pleaded guilty to Sarkozy for his influence as chairman of the conservative UMP party and as presidential candidate. His collaborators Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux committed corruption crimes through his contacts with Muammar Qaddafi's regime.

Indeed, the president of the jury has pointed out that the then Elysée candidate gave these next two collaborators the opportunity to obtain "financial support" from Tripoli for the 2007 campaign box.

The ruling states that this crime of membership of the criminal association took place from 2005, when Sarkozy made a trip to Libya as Minister of the Interior, until 15 May 2007, when the presidential term began, and from then on immunity covered him as Head of State. 

However, he has been acquitted of other crimes such as violation of electoral rules or embezzlement during the campaign that led him to the Elysée in 2007.

The crime of criminal association can lead to upto 10 years' imprisonment .