Crunch time for French ex-President Sarkozy as graft trial opens
- 23 Nov 2020
Gulf Today Report
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial Monday for attempted bribery of a judge, a first for the 65-year-old politician who has faced several other judicial investigations since leaving office in 2012.
Sarkozy is being accused of having tried to illegally obtain information from a magistrate about an investigation involving him in 2014.
Though he is not the first modern French head of state in the dock — his predecessor and political mentor Jacques Chirac was convicted of embezzlement -- Sarkozy is the first to face corruption charges.
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He stands trial in a Paris court along with his lawyer Thierry Herzog, 65, and the magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, 73.
They face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of 1 million euros ($1.2 million). They deny any wrongdoing.
Hearings are scheduled until Dec.10.
