Sarkozy’s Libya trial wraps up, verdict anticipated in September

The trial of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, accused of receiving illicit campaign financing from Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi during the 2007 presidential race, concluded on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

Prosecutors claim Sarkozy accepted substantial financial support from Gadhafi in return for favorable business agreements. Seif al-Islam, Gadhafi’s son, told French radio in January that he was personally involved in delivering $5 million in cash to Sarkozy in 2007, allegedly as part of a deal to secure business contracts and to have charges dropped related to the 1989 bombing of UTA Flight 772 over Niger. That attack killed 170 people, including 54 French citizens.

During proceedings in Paris, relatives of the bombing victims voiced concerns that their family members were exploited as leverage in diplomatic negotiations aimed at restoring Franco-Libyan relations.

Back in 2003, Gadhafi accepted responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, and agreed to pay more than $1 billion in compensation to the victims’ families. He also offered compensation to the families of the UTA Flight 772 victims—without admitting guilt – despite the conviction of six Libyan officials tried in absentia by a French court in 1999. He also pledged to abandon Libya’s nuclear ambitions in return for the lifting of UN sanctions.

That ushered in an era of rapprochement between Libya and many western countries including France.

Prosecutors are pushing for a seven-year prison sentence for Sarkozy, in addition to a €300,000 ($330,000) fine and a five-year prohibition from holding public office. Sarkozy has consistently denied the allegations, insisting he never accepted any money from Gadhafi.

A verdict is expected on September 25.