Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy slams ‘six years of slander’ at corruption trial
- Former leader faces up to 10 years in jail and a US$1.2 million fine for allegedly offering a judge a plum retirement job for inside information
- Sarkozy became France’s first modern head of state to appear in the dock last week
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy complained on Monday of being the victim of six years of “slander”, in his first remarks to the court at his landmark corruption trial.
Sarkozy became France’s first modern head of state to appear in the dock last week, going on trial on charges of corruption and influence peddling.
The 65-year-old right-winger, who also faces trials in two other investigations, is accused of offering judge Gilbert Azibert a plum retirement job in exchange for inside information on an inquiry into his campaign finances.
“I don’t accept any of the slander that has been levelled at me over the past six years,” France’s leader from 2007 to 2012 told the criminal court in Paris.
He risks a sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of €1 million (US $1.2 million) if convicted.
