Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is brought before the court today, accused of trying to bribe a judge and exploit influence, and this is the first time in the country's history after World War II, in which a French president is brought before a court because of a corruption file.

Prosecutors say that Sarkozy offered Judge Gilbert Azibert to obtain a prestigious position in the Principality of Monaco, in exchange for classified information about an investigation into allegations that Sarkozy accepted illegal funds from the heir to L'Oreal founder Lilian Bettencourt for the benefit of his presidential campaign. For the year 2007.

Sarkozy, 65, denied any wrongdoing in the corruption file he was pursuing, denouncing what he described as "a scandal that will be recorded in history", and pledging to go to court with a "fighting spirit," and the trial sessions are expected to continue until December 10 next;

But it is related to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the conduct of the trial.

Results of investigations

Sarkozy assumed the presidency of France between 2007 and 2012, and is still influential in the ranks of the right-wing, and since 2013 investigators have monitored the phone calls between Sarkozy and his lawyer Terry Herzog during their investigation into allegations of funding provided by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to Sarkozy's campaign for the 2007 elections, so that French investigators discovered In early 2014, Sarkozy and his lawyer were communicating using mobile phones registered with pseudonyms.

Representatives of the French Public Prosecution said that the wiretapping revealed that Sarkozy and Herzog had discussed on multiple occasions the contact with Gilbert Azibert, the judge of the Court of Cassation, who was well informed of the investigation of the file of the famous French businesswoman, Lillian Bettencourt.

Prosecutors say that Sarkozy offered to help Judge Azibert get a job in Monaco.

In exchange for assistance from within the court in providing confidential information in the Bettencourt file, Sarkozy said in a statement to BFM this month that "Mr. Azibert never got the job in Monaco."

Herzog and Seibert are on trial with Sarkozy for corruption and abuse of influence, and the three face up to 10 years in prison and fines of one million euros if convicted.

Sarkozy and his "Republican" party, which has represented the center-right for years, say the judicial investigations against the former president are politically motivated.

In addition to the corruption file, Nicolas Sarkozy is awaiting another trial next spring, known as the "Bygmalion" case, related to his accusation of violating campaign finance standards for the 2012 presidential poll, by exceeding the allowed spending ceiling.