Former French President Sarkozy Sentenced to Five Years in First Trial Over Gaddafi Illicit Funds

Ahead of the 2007 Presidential Election
Allegations of Receiving Illicit Funds from Libyan Dictator Gaddafi
Court Finds Evidence Insufficient to Prove Use in Campaign

On September 25, 2025 (local time), former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial after being indicted on charges of receiving a large sum of illicit funds from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi ahead of the 2007 French presidential election.

AP Yonhap News

The Paris Criminal Court, during the sentencing hearing, acquitted former President Sarkozy of the main charge of receiving illegal funds from Gaddafi.

The court explained that although funds did flow from Libya to France in 2006, the existence of "opaque funds" alone was insufficient to prove that they were used for Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign.

However, the court found Sarkozy guilty of "criminal conspiracy," determining that, as party leader at the time, he allowed his close associates and political supporters to approach Libyan authorities to raise funds for the presidential election campaign.

The court further stated that Sarkozy's actions constituted "a serious criminal offense that undermined public trust," and sentenced him to five years in prison, a fine of 100,000 euros (approximately 160 million won), and disqualified him from running for office for five years.

The court ruled that the five-year prison sentence would be served as an actual prison term, but the execution of the arrest warrant would be carried out at a later date.

Sarkozy, who ran in the 2007 presidential election, was indicted on charges of making an agreement with Gaddafi around 2005, promising industrial and diplomatic benefits to the Libyan regime in exchange for millions of euros in illegal political funds to support his presidential campaign.

Sarkozy has claimed that this case is a politically motivated investigation. Although he suffered legal and social repercussions, including being stripped of France’s highest honor, the Legion of Honor, in June, he continues to wield influence in French politics.