French court to deliver verdict in Sarkozy trial

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will on Thursday learn his fate in a corruption trial in which he is accused of taking millions of euros from late Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi to help finance his 2007 election campaign. French prosecutors have requested a seven-year jail sentence for Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012. He can appeal if found guilty, which would likely suspend his sentence. The 70-year-old has been on trial since January on charges of “concealing the embezzlement of public funds, passive corruption, illegal campaign financing and criminal conspiracy with a view to committing a crime”. Investigators allege he made a corrupt pact with the Libyan government. At issue is a murky affair alleged to involve Libyan spies, a convicted terrorist, arms dealers and allegations that Gaddafi provided Sarkozy’s campaign with millions of euros shipped to Paris in suitcases. Sarkozy has repeatedly denied any guilt, and said the case is politically motiva