Sarkozy to stand trial for illegal campaign financing
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy lost a final court appeal yesterday against an order that he stand trial on charges of illegal financing for his 2012 election campaign. Sarkozy, who already faces a separate trial for corruption involving a judge, is accused of spending nearly double the legal limit of 22.5 million euros on his failed re-election bid.
Prosecutors claim the 64-year-old Sarkozy spent nearly 43 million euros on his quest for a second term. Investigators claim that Sarkozy’s campaign used fake invoices to get around the campaign spending limits. Sarkozy has rejected the charges, saying he was unaware of the fraud by executives at the public relations firm Bygmalion. He faces a year in prison and a fine of 3,750 euros if convicted.
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