In a landmark legal ruling, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted of criminal conspiracy in a high-profile case involving illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris criminal court, however, acquitted Sarkozy of additional charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. The case, which has spanned over a decade, centers on allegations that Sarkozy accepted millions of euros from Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign. In return, Sarkozy allegedly promised to help Gaddafi improve his tarnished reputation in Western nations. Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, has consistently denied the accusations, claiming the case is politically motivated. The investigation began in 2013 after Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s son, accused Sarkozy of misusing Libyan funds. Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine later claimed to possess evidence of Sarkozy’s campaign being heavily financed by Tripoli, with payments continuing even after his election. Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, was also implicated in the case last year, facing charges of hiding evidence and associating with wrongdoers, which she denies. This verdict adds to Sarkozy’s legal troubles, which include a 2021 conviction for attempting to bribe a judge and a 2024 ruling for overspending on his 2012 re-election campaign. Despite these setbacks, Sarkozy has managed to avoid significant jail time, with recent court rulings allowing him to serve sentences at home.