Former French president Sarkozy sentenced to 5 years for criminal conspiracy

A Paris court has sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy.

The court found him guilty of attempting to finance his 2007 campaign with funds from Libya.

Sarkozy, who is 70, will be incarcerated even if he appeals. He denounced the ruling as a scandalous injustice and said he plans to appeal.

The court also found two of his former ministers guilty of criminal association, however he was cleared of charges including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing.