France's Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed today the conviction of former President Nicolas Sarkozy for illegal financing of his 2012 re-election campaign, the Associated Press reported, BTA reports.
The decision is a serious blow to his political legacy and public image.
The court upheld the one-year prison sentence, half of which was suspended, for exceeding the maximum allowable spending limit during his failed campaign.
Under French law, Sarkozy can serve his sentence under house arrest, with an electronic bracelet or under other conditions determined by the court.
The ruling comes just two weeks after Sarkozy was released from prison in another case pending an appeal. The 70-year-old former head of state spent 20 days in the Paris prison “Sante“ after being found guilty on charges of receiving illegal funding from Libya during his successful 2007 election campaign. He continues to deny all charges against him.