Corruption Trial of Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Begins - CGTN 06/12/2020 17(08

Corruption trial of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy begins - CGTN 06/12/2020 17(08

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(https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020- 12-06/Chang-e-5- orbiter-returner- separates-from- A court case against the former French President ascender- VZIP1wWUeI/index.html) Nicolas Sarkozy has started in Paris. Chang'e-5 He is the ﬁrst ex-French head of state to stand trial for orbiter- corruption and faces charges of allegedly trying to returner bribe a magistrate to hand over recordings of separat… conversations between him and his lawyer, Thierry from ascender, Herzog. The phone had allegedly been tapped and the waitingSpace to dialogue formed part of a long-running investigation 06:12, 06-Dec- go home into his party ﬁnances. 2020 (https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020- 12- 06/Chang- e-5- orbiter- returner- separates- (https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020- 12-06/Hong-Kong-from- CLICK: UK-CHINA RESEARCHERS DEVELOPING looks-to-expand-ascender- SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TO BATTERIES tech-innovation- cooperation-with-VZIP1wWUeI/index.html) (https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-11- Qianhai- 23/Scientists-develop-solar-cells-that-harvest-energy- W0gwSZDmEw/index.html) from-indoor-light-VDiKZDM3qo/index.html) Hong Kong looks to https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-11-24/Corruption-trial-of-former-French-President-Nicolas-Sarkozy-begins-VELwEI5ZG8/index.html …Page 2 sur 9 Corruption trial of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy begins - CGTN 06/12/2020 17(08

expand… tech Sarkozy and Herzog deny the allegations of Chinainnovation wrongdoing, but they could face 10 years in jail if found 12:15,cooperation 06-Dec- guilty. with2020 Qianhai The former president won office in 2007, on a ticket of (https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020- promising looser labor regulations and lower taxes. But 12- he has been embroiled in a litany of legal woes since 06/Hong- leaving the post. Kong- looks-to- The court case that began on November 23 is centered (https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-expand- on allegations that Sarkozy tried to bribe magistrate 12-06/Iran-tech- prepares-to-raise- Gilbert Azibert in return for arranging a plush job for oil-exports-if-innovation- him in Monaco. sanctions-ease-cooperation- state-media- W0tpfYnhJK/index.html)with- Qianhai- Sarkozy faces separate allegations that executives at a Iran W0gwSZDmEw/index.html) public relations firm created fake invoices to mask prepares overspending on his failed 2012 re-election bid. to raise oil exports i… He could stand trial in that case early next year. sanctions ease: Markets There is also an ongoing investigation into his 2007 14:28,state 06-Dec- presidential campaign and allegations that it was 2020media backed by a nearly $60 million donation from the (https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020- Gaddafi regime in Libya. 12- 06/Iran- The 65-year-old says of the Libya allegations that his prepares- "innocence has again been disregarded by a decision to-raise- that doesn't bring any evidence of any illicit financing." oil- exports-if- sanctions- ease-

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Nicolas Sarkozy, who is the ﬁrst former French head of state to stand trial for corruption, denies the allegations. /AP

Four years after taking power, Sarkozy, who claims he is a victim of a "plot" in this case, joined forces with the UK and the U.S. as part of a NATO-led military intervention in Libya.

Sitting French presidents cannot be questioned as a witness, placed under formal investigation or charged. But Nicolas Sarkozy left oﬃce eight years ago, and former leaders can face the courts.

"The head of state is not able to avoid the justice process, they are not above the law, they are just like anyone else," said Julie Gallois, from the Observatory of Public Ethics.

"Our judicial system works and, also, citizens accept that they have to submit to the law and to judges if they are brought to trial."

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When Sarkozy came into power, he replaced outgoing president Jacques Chirac, who died last year.

Sarkozy is only the second former French president to stand trial – Chirac was the ﬁrst, and he was given a two-year suspended prison sentence in 2011 for diverting public funds and abusing public trust.

Sarkozy is now ﬁghting to clear his name with a string of allegations against him, one trial under way and another possible court case next year.