New Delhi (NVI): Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption by a court in Paris today and was handed a three-year prison sentence for trying to influence a judge during his tenure, as per foreign media reports.
However, Sarkozy is unlikely to go to prison as the sentence includes two years suspended. There is no arrest warrant issued and he is almost certain to appeal, the reports said.
The 66-year-old leader, who married former supermodel and singer Carla Bruni while in office, ruled France from 2007 to 2012. Sarkozi also remains a favourite among the right wing in France.
The ruling by the Paris court said that rather than going to prison, Sarkozy could serve a year at home with an electronic tag.
Sarkozy is the first former president to appear in court on criminal charges. Before him, his predecessor Jacques Chirac was awarded a two-year suspended sentence in 2011 over creation of fake jobs at Paris city hall to fund his party when he was mayor. Chirac died in 2019.
-ARK
