Court Dismisses Sarkozy's Appeal In Election Campaign Illegal Financing Case - Reports

The French Court of Appeal rejected Thursday an appeal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy against a decision to have him stand trial over charges of illegal campaign financing as part of a probe into a case know as the "Bygmalion affair," local media reporte

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2018) The French Court of Appeal rejected Thursday an appeal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy against a decision to have him stand trial over charges of illegal campaign financing as part of a probe into a case know as the "Bygmalion affair," local media reported.

Sarkozy is facing charges over illegal financing of his 2012 presidential campaign and is accused of siding with friendly Bygmalion PR agency to conceal the real costs of his campaign, which exceeded the limit set by the French election legislation almost twice.

According to the France Info radio station, the decision of the French Court of Appeal might be challenged in the Court of Cassation.

In early October, another appeal filed by the ex-president against the resumption of a corruption case against him was rejected as well. The investigation was initially launched in 2007, however, until 2012 then President Sarkozy enjoyed immunity. In October 2013, the case was closed due to the lack of evidence.

Sarkozy is currently facing multiple legal problems. The former president is facing accusations of bribery, abuse of authority and concealing the fact of a breach of professional secrecy. He is also under investigation for allegedly accepting financing for the 2007 campaign from then Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.