Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at the Paris court on Monday afternoon for his fifth trial in five years, facing accusations of illegal campaign financing from Libya during his 2007 presidential bid.
Dressed in a navy blue suit, Sarkozy entered the packed courtroom ahead of the four-month-long proceedings. Also present were several of the 12 other defendants, including former Ministers Brice Hortefeux, Claude Guéant and Eric Woerth, as well as Sarkozy’s close associate Thierry Gaubert and intermediary Alexandre Djouhri.
Sarkozy’s inner circle, including the 69-year-old himself, maintains that he is "combative" and "determined" to prove his innocence against what he has consistently described as a "fable".
'We are convinced of his guilt'
He is accused of having, while serving as Interior Minister in late 2005, struck a "corruption pact" with Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to secure financial support for his presidential campaign, with the help of his chief of staff Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux.
Facing charges of corruption, embezzlement of public funds, illegal campaign financing and criminal conspiracy, Sarkozy could face up to ten years in prison, a €375,000 fine, and a five-year ban on holding public office.
"We are convinced of his guilt based on testimonies, financial tracing, and assistance from 21 countries," stated financial prosecutor Jean-François Bohnert on BFMTV/RMC.
"Our work is not political," Bohnert continued. "We have only one guidepost: the law."
