Prosecutors seek jail time for Sarkozy over illegal campaign financing

Prosecutors seek jail time for Sarkozy over illegal campaign financing

They allege the ex-French president spent nearly double the €22.5 million allowed by law on rallies.

Sarkozy has denied the financing of his failed 2012 re-election campaign was his responsibility. (AP pic)
PARIS:
French prosecutors have requested a six-month prison term for former president Nicolas Sarkozy at his campaign financing trial, BFM TV reported on Thursday.

A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office could not immediately comment on the report.

On Tuesday, Sarkozy denied wrongdoing at his trial over the illegal financing of his failed 2012 re-election campaign, saying its expenses were not his responsibility.

Prosecutors allege that Sarkozy’s conservative party spent nearly double the 22.5 million allowed under electoral law on extravagant campaign rallies, then hired a friendly public relations agency to hide the cost.

A defiant Sarkozy said in court he had not been involved in the logistics of his campaign for a second term as president nor in how money was spent during the election run-up.

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