Former French president Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison

PARIS - Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison with a deferred prison term, after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy over alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign, according to French media BFM TV reports.

The court also fined Sarkozy 100,000 euros (117,000 US dollars) and barred him from holding public office or running for election for five years.

Sarkozy has reiterated his innocence and vowed to appeal the verdict. Two of his close allies, former Secretary General of the Elysee Palace Claude Gueant and former minister Brice Hortefeux, were sentenced to six years and two years in prison, respectively.

According to French media, the court convicted Sarkozy of criminal association but acquitted him of corruption and illegal campaign financing.

The case dates back to 2012, when investigative website Mediapart published a document alleging that the regime of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi agreed to help finance Sarkozy's 2007 presidential bid. French prosecutors opened a formal investigation the following year into suspected corruption and illegal campaign funding linked to Libya.