AssetID: 54418277
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy Faces Trial Over Gaddafi Campaign Financing Allegations
Caption: Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy Faces Trial Over Gaddafi Campaign Financing Allegations. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has gone on trial in Paris, accused of accepting millions from Libya's Moammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign, Sky News reports. Sarkozy faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds, and criminal association, carrying potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The 69-year-old, married to former supermodel Carla Bruni, denies all allegations, with his lawyer Christophe Ingrain asserting, "There is no Libyan financing of the campaign.” Anti-corruption organizations Sherpa, Anticor, and Transparency International joined the case, highlighting how cross-border corruption harms public resources and affects civilians. The trial, involving 11 other defendants, also includes accusations against Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, alleged to have acted as an intermediary. Takieddine has fled to Lebanon and did not appear in court. The case originated in 2011 when a Libyan news agency claimed Gaddafi financed Sarkozy’s campaign, with the late dictator stating, "It's thanks to us that he reached the presidency.” French online news outlet Mediapart later published a document in 2012 purportedly from Libyan intelligence, mentioning Gaddafi’s agreement to provide €50m to Sarkozy’s campaign. Sarkozy called the document a “blatant fake.” Investigators determined the document had signs of authenticity, but conclusive evidence of financial transactions has not been found. Sarkozy’s campaign costs were officially reported as €20m. Sarkozy has already been convicted in two other cases: one for corruption and influence peddling, resulting in a one-year house arrest sentence, and another for illegal campaign financing in his failed 2012 re-election bid. The trial is seen as the most significant scandal of Sarkozy’s career, as he faces mounting legal troubles and scrutiny over his presidential legacy. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Ex,French,France,President,Nicolas Sarkozy,Faces,Trial,Over,Gaddafi,Campaign,Financing,Allegations,Moammar Gaddafi,Paris,Ziad Takieddine,Document
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