EBN- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will wear an electronic bracelet, making him the first French president to be convicted of such a punishment.
The French Court of Cassation on Wednesday upheld the verdict against former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the “wiretapping” case known as the “Paul Bismuth case.”
With this decision, Sarkozy will wear an electronic bracelet, making him the first French president to be convicted of this punishment.
The case concerns Sarkozy, in collaboration with former judge Gilbert Azibert, setting up what the court described as a “corruption agreement.”
According to the investigation, the agreement was for the judge to provide sensitive information regarding the legal proceedings in the Bettencourt case that was under consideration. In return, Sarkozy promised to support the judge in obtaining a position in Monaco.
Although Judge Azibert did not get the job, the court ruled that the intent to commit corruption was sufficient to prove the crime. In this context, Sarkozy was convicted of “corruption” and “influence abuse”.
Three years imprisonment
In May 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld Sarkozy’s initial three-year prison sentence, including one year of house arrest enforceable using an electronic bracelet. The Court of Cassation rejected Sarkozy’s request to annul this sentence, making the conviction final.
Despite the conviction being upheld, the house arrest will not begin immediately. The Court of Cassation must send the ruling to the Court of Appeal, which will then refer the case to the Paris Sentences Enforcement Department, where Sarkozy resides. He will then be summoned by a sentencing judge to determine the terms of the sentence, including when he will wear the electronic bracelet.
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Patrice Spinozzi, said the former president would comply with the ruling. He added that in the coming weeks he would file a lawsuit against the French judiciary before the European Court of Human Rights, to “guarantee the rights that French judges denied him.”
The verdict coincides with the start of another trial related to allegations of possible Libyan financing of Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign, which will begin on January 6. According to his lawyers, the defense team may request a postponement of the sentence to avoid affecting the trial.
Sarkozy will turn 70 next January, which will allow him to request parole and be exempted from wearing the electronic bracelet. The final decision on this request remains with the competent judicial authorities
