A Paris court has found former French President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case over alleged illegal financing of his successful 2007 presidential campaign by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, reports "Reuters", News.bg.
Sarkozy was, however, acquitted of all other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing.
Sarkozy, who has always denied the charges, was accused of making a deal with Gaddafi in 2005, when he was France's interior minister, to receive campaign financing in exchange for supporting the then-isolated Libyan government on the international stage.
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 to commit a crime.
Investigators say he struck a corruption pact with the Libyan government. The case is part of a murky affair that has allegedly involved Libyan spies, a convicted terrorist, arms dealers and allegations that Gaddafi provided Sarkozy's campaign with millions of euros, which were sent to Paris in suitcases.
Sarkozy has said the case is politically motivated.
Despite ongoing legal headaches and the removal of the Legion of Honor, France's highest honor, in June, Sarkozy remains an influential figure in French politics.