Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of corruption and sentenced to a year behind bars. During his testimony, Sarkozy said he was the victim of lies and denied ever committing an act of corruption. It meant Sarkozy became the first President of France in recent history to be sentenced to actual cell time, rather than a suspended sentence. The last French head of state to go to prison was Marshall Philippe Pétain, the wartime Nazi collaborator. Sarkozy had risked up to a decade in prison and a fine approaching the equivalent of £1million.

Source: Daily Mirror March 01, 2021 13:08 UTC