Paris:French prosecutors on Tuesday announced they are seeking indictments against former president Nicolas Sarkozy, his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and nine other individuals in an alleged witness-tampering case linked to claims of illegal Libyan campaign financing.
The case centers on Ziad Takieddine, a key accuser who had repeatedly alleged that he helped deliver up to five million euros in cash from late Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi to support Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign. In 2020, Takieddine abruptly retracted his statement, later sparking accusations that he had been paid to change his testimony — allegations that Sarkozy and his associates have consistently denied. Takieddine died in late September.
France’s national financial prosecutor’s office said it is requesting Sarkozy’s indictment on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit fraud as part of an organized gang and concealment of witness tampering. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy faces a single charge of criminal conspiracy to commit fraud as part of an organized gang.
An investigating judge will now decide whether the case should be referred to a criminal court. Sarkozy’s lawyer declined to comment when contacted by media.
The development comes as Sarkozy continues to battle legal troubles. In September, he was found guilty of seeking illegal campaign financing from Qaddafi’s Libya and sentenced to five years in prison. He was released after 20 days pending appeal and has maintained his innocence. An appeals trial is scheduled to begin in March.
Despite the ongoing cases, the 70-year-old former president remains an influential figure within France’s political right.
