Sarkozy: Convicted of illegally financing his 2012 election campaign

A Paris court has found former French President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of illegally funding a 2012 election campaign.

Sarkozy was sentenced on March 1 to three years in prison, one of which was suspended without charge, for corruption and illegal influence in the so-called "spying" case.

He now faces up to one year in prison and a € 3,750 fine for "illegal campaign financing" in the Bygmalion case, which had sparked a series of upheavals on the right with when it was revealed.

According to Reuters, the so-called “Bygmalion” case against Sarkozy centers on accusations that the former president’s political party, then known as the UMP, worked with a friendly public relations firm to hide the true cost of his re-election bid.

France sets strict limits on campaign spending. Prosecutors allege the PR firm, Bygmalion, invoiced UMP rather than the campaign, allowing Sarkozy to spend almost double the permitted amount.

More to come...