Crunch time for French ex-President Sarkozy as graft trial opens - GulfToday

Crunch time for French ex-President Sarkozy as graft trial opens

  • 23 Nov 2020
Nicolas-Sarkozy

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pictured during a visit in Nice, France. File/Reuters

Gulf Today Report

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial Monday for attempted bribery of a judge, a first for the 65-year-old politician who has faced several other judicial investigations since leaving office in 2012.

Sarkozy is being accused of having tried to illegally obtain information from a magistrate about an investigation involving him in 2014.

Though he is not the first modern French head of state in the dock — his predecessor and political mentor Jacques Chirac was convicted of embezzlement -- Sarkozy is the first to face corruption charges.

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He stands trial in a Paris court along with his lawyer Thierry Herzog, 65, and the magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, 73.

They face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of 1 million euros ($1.2 million). They deny any wrongdoing.

Hearings are scheduled until Dec.10.

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