"France's top appeals court is set to rule in a case of alleged illegal campaign financing against former president Nicolas Sarkozy - his last chance to avoid a second definitive conviction, after he was sent to jail last month in a separate case, related to an earlier election campaign. The Court of Cassation in Paris will rule on whether a lower court was right to convict him of illegal financing in his failed 2012 re-election campaign."
"The case under review on Wednesday focuses on charges that Sarkozy's right-wing party worked with public relations firm Bygmalion to hide the true cost of his 2012 re-election bid. Prosecutors said Sarkozy spent nearly €43million on his 2012 campaign, nearly double the permitted amount of €22.5million. Unlike his co-defendants, he was not implicated in the double-billing system allegedly used to cover costs but was held accountable as the beneficiary of illegal campaign financing in his capacity as a candidate."
The Court of Cassation in Paris will determine whether a lower court correctly convicted Nicolas Sarkozy of illegal financing tied to his failed 2012 re-election campaign. If the conviction is upheld, Sarkozy would face a six-month sentence, possibly served with an electronic bracelet. Prosecutors allege the campaign spent nearly €43 million, almost double the €22.5 million legal cap, and that the party worked with PR firm Bygmalion to conceal costs. Sarkozy was not accused of running the alleged double-billing system but was held liable as campaign beneficiary. He denies any criminal responsibility and has faced other convictions and jail time in separate cases.
Read at The Local France
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