Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • World
  • Mid-East
  • Europe
  • Americas
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Syrian Crisis
  • Islamophobia

France's Sarkozy risks trial over Libyan money row

by Agencies

ISTANBUL Sep 24, 2020 - 12:26 pm GMT+3
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the mass for the funeral of late French Justice Minister Pascal Clement at Saint Peter's Church in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, June 25, 2020. (AFP Photo)
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the mass for the funeral of late French Justice Minister Pascal Clement at Saint Peter's Church in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, June 25, 2020. (AFP Photo)
by Agencies Sep 24, 2020 12:26 pm
RECOMMENDED
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic attends a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain June 30, 2022. (Reuters File Photo)

Croatian president slams Europe for sending weapons to Ukraine

CROATIA

A Paris appeals court has thrown out a bid by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to dismiss an inquiry into claims that he used Libyan cash for his 2007 election campaign, legal sources said Thursday.

The ruling means a trial is likely over suspicions that Sarkozy and his associates accepted millions of euros from the regime of former strongman Moammar Gadhafi, though they can still appeal to France's highest criminal court.

Sarkozy, 65, denies the charges that were sparked by investigative website Mediapart in 2012 when it published a document purporting to show that Gadhafi agreed to give Sarkozy up to 50 million euros ($58 million or $67.6 million at today's rate).

Within a few months of his election, former French president invited Gadhafi to Paris and praised him as a great friend and "Brother Leader".

Judges are also investigating the claims of French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine who said he delivered suitcases carrying a total of 5 million euros from the Libyan regime to Sarkozy's chief of staff in 2006 and 2007.

The former president was charged in 2018 with taking bribes, concealing the embezzlement of Libyan public funds and illegal campaign financing.

Over seven years of investigation, a strong sum of disturbing clues such as various testimonies from Libyan dignitaries was collected as well as notes from the Tripoli secret services and accusations of an intermediary. However, no physical evidence has been found, although suspicious movements of funds have led to nine indictments to date.

Sarkozy and his former ministers Claude Gueant, Eric Woerth and Brice Hortefeux challenged the validity of the investigation on a number of procedural grounds.

In a vast procedural offensive, the former head of state and his former ministers Claude Guéant, Eric Woerth and Brice Hortefeux – all indicted except the latter – had raised a whole series of nullities against these investigations. All but Hortefeux are also charged in the case.

The former president is also seeking to invoke head-of-state immunity on some of the counts against him.

Also charged in the case is Alexandre Djouhri, a businessman suspected of acting as a middleman for the cash transfers.

Sarkozy, who retired from politics after a failed comeback attempt for the 2017 presidential vote, has accused the Paris judiciary of hounding him.

It is not the only legal headache for the former right-wing president. He was also charged in two other cases: One relating to fake invoices devised to mask overspending on his failed 2012 re-election campaign and another for alleged influence peddling.

He is set to go on trial in the second case on Oct. 5, when he will become France's first ex-president on the dock for corruption.

RECOMMENDED
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic attends a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain June 30, 2022. (Reuters File Photo)

Croatian president slams Europe for sending weapons to Ukraine

CROATIA
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    france nicolas sarkozy moamer kadhafi libya corruption trial
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    For the European Union, Cyprus is an instrument to hold Türkiye politically hostage. (Erhan Yalvaç Illustration)

    How to create a united state in Cyprus?

    CYPRUS-ISSUE
    Türkiye's main battle tank Altay is seen in this file photo, Nov. 15, 2012. (Photo by Mesut Er)

    Türkiye inks $200M deal with S.Korean firm for parts of MBT Altay

    altay-tank

    Dutch, German consulates in Istanbul close over 'security threats'

    türkiye-eu-relations

    Religion not included in NATO deal with Türkiye: Swedish FM

    TÜRKIYE-SWEDEN-RELATIONS
    No Image
    Turkish Van cat overdose: Breeding program starts
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021