Paris (AFP)
The lawyers of Nicolas Sarkozy's co-defendants, his lawyer Thierry Herzog and the former high magistrate Gilbert Azibert, began their defense pleadings on Thursday, on the last day of the trial of the so-called "tapping" case.
"My remarks will be the absolute criticism, without reservation (...) of this file, which is the perfect illustration of everything that should not be done in a criminal procedure", declared Dominique Allegrini, lawyer for Mr. Azibert, at the start of his plea.
Me Allegrini denounced the requisitions of the prosecution which are as many "death sentences: a social death penalty for Gilbert Azibert, a professional death penalty for Thierry Herzog and a political death penalty for Nicolas Sarkozy".
The three defendants appear for corruption and influence peddling - Me Herzog also being prosecuted for violation of professional secrecy and Mr. Azibert for concealment of this violation.
Thierry Herzog's advice must conclude the pleadings, before a last word from the defendants.
The decision will then be reserved.
On Tuesday, financial prosecutors requested four years in prison, two of which are firm, against the three men, asking that the sentence be accompanied by five years of professional prohibition for Me Herzog.
According to the prosecution, Nicolas Sarkozy did obtain in 2014, through his lawyer, information covered by secrecy from Gilbert Azibert about an appeal then under consideration at the Court of Cassation.
At the time, Nicolas Sarkozy had benefited from a dismissal in the Bettencourt case, but he sought to have the high court annul the seizure of his presidential agendas, which could have been poured into other legal proceedings.
For financial prosecutors, in return for this information and an attempt to influence the magistrates who were examining his request, the former head of state promised to bring a "boost" to Mr. Azibert for a prestigious position in Monaco - where the latter was ultimately never appointed.
The three defendants strongly proclaimed their innocence during the trial, contesting the interpretation made by the PNF of telephone conversations between MM.
Sarkozy and Herzog intercepted by justice on the unofficial line opened in the name of "Paul Bismuth".
"We are light years away from a corruption pact," said Jacqueline Laffont, lawyer for Nicolas Sarkozy, on Wednesday, who pleaded for release by denouncing a "desert of evidence".
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