Former French President Sarkozy Sentenced to Prison: "I Will Prove Innocence at the European Court of Human Rights"

Supreme Court Judge Bribery Sentences 3 Years Imprisonment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was convicted of bribing a Supreme Court judge in connection with an investigation into illegal political funds, has expressed his grievance and stated that he will prove his innocence at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

In an interview with the daily Le Figaro on the 2nd (local time), former President Sarkozy said he had appealed the verdict and added, "It seems this fight must be taken all the way to the European Court of Human Rights."

He also said, "It is painful to have one's homeland criticized, but that is also the price of democracy."

Sarkozy, who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012, was tried on charges of promising a high-ranking post after retirement to Gilbert Azibert, a judge of the Court of Cassation (equivalent to the Supreme Court in Korea), in exchange for receiving information related to the investigation of his illegal political funds allegations. On the 1st, he was sentenced to three years in prison, including two years suspended.

He became the first former president since the establishment of France's current Fifth Republic (1958) to be convicted of corruption.

Although he received a prison sentence, one year of the sentence, excluding the two-year probation period, may be reduced on the condition that he wears an electronic tag at home.

In this interview, Sarkozy repeatedly emphasized his innocence, claiming that the verdict was full of contradictions and that the judiciary was politically biased.

On the evening of the sentencing day, he spent time comfortably watching the American TV drama "The Killing" with his family and said, "I have no feelings of anger" and "It seems this will be a long battle."

Regarding voices from some in the center-right camp urging him to run in the next presidential election, he said, "Whether I am acquitted or not, nothing will change politically," and added, "I will not run, and I will keep that promise."

In addition to this guilty verdict, Sarkozy is also under investigation for allegations of receiving slush funds from Libyan dictator Gaddafi ahead of the 2007 presidential election and illegally raising campaign funds by forging receipts during the 2012 presidential election.

Sarkozy, who challenged re-election in 2012, was defeated by Socialist Fran?ois Hollande, and although he ran again in the 2017 presidential election, he was eliminated in the Republican party primary and announced his retirement from politics.