Nicolas Sarkozy

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was demanded to be sentenced to four years in prison in a corruption case. This statement was made by the prosecutor's office, reports the BFMTV channel.

Law enforcers insist that two years of the specified period be suspended conditionally. During a court hearing on Monday, December 7, Sarkozy denied the charges.

Sarkozy found himself in the dock at the end of November. The 65-year-old politician is accused of corruption and influence trading. Together with the former President of France, his lawyer Thierry Erzogh and a former high-ranking officer of the Court of Cassation Gilbert Azibert are involved in the case.

According to the investigation, through his lawyer, the former French leader could promise Aziber a position in Monaco. In exchange, he was supposed to provide confidential information about another investigation: it concerned allegations of illegal financing of Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign by the heiress of the French company L'Oreal, Liliane Bettencourt.

The investigation believes that in 2007 Sarkozy received 150 thousand euros in cash from her during a meeting with Bettencourt. He allegedly used this money to finance his election campaign. According to French law, candidates are prohibited from accepting donations worth more than 4.6 thousand euros.

Nicolas Sarkozy was President of France from 2007 to 2012.