The wiretapping case is on appeal in Paris.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy reaffirmed on Monday that he "never" had "corrupted anyone", declaring that he wanted to "defend his honor which has been flouted by incredible means".

The president of the Court of Appeal Sophie Clément has, as is customary, verified the identity of the former head of state, standing at the bar in a black suit and tie on a white shirt, before him remind him of his right to silence and to ask him if he contested his guilt as well as his sentence.

The right to silence, "I've never used this right, I'm not going to start here," said Nicolas Sarkozy, retried with his historic lawyer Thierry Herzog and former magistrate Gilbert Azibert, after having requested to make an opening statement.

"We are going to hear the wiretaps, I will explain myself on each of the wiretaps," he said, arguing that conversations between a lawyer and his client were protected by the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

The line of “Paul Bismuth”

This winding file has its origin in the telephone interceptions of conversations between Nicolas Sarkozy and Me Herzog in early 2014, on an unofficial line opened under the identity of “Paul Bismuth”.

They had not been broadcast in the first instance.

“The words are strong, corruption, influence peddling.

I am former President of the Republic, I have never corrupted anyone and let's admit that it is a strange corruption, without money, not a penny for anyone, without advantage, not a benefit for anyone and without victim, since no one was harmed,” he said.

"I was taken into custody in front of cameras around the world, released at 3:30 am, my conversations were listened to, international letters rogatory were initiated, a rain of wiretapping, fadettes, were carried out, three weeks before the Paris Criminal Court, two weeks before the Court of Appeal”, he listed.

" Where is the evidence ?

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“This whole affair has seriously harmed me and if I am appealing (…) it is because the criminal court has indicated that a bundle of clues makes Nicolas Sarkozy (…) a culprit.

Madam President, I am a lawyer, I have always learned that with serious and concordant indications, you are put on trial, but to convict, you need evidence.

Where is the evidence ?

he launched.

Apologizing for his “vehemence”, he added: “When one is innocent, one is indignant.

I come here to defend my honor which has been violated in incredible conditions.

I come to convince the court that I did nothing, ”he thundered.

Justice

Case of "wiretapping": New judicial round for Nicolas Sarkozy

Justice

Wiretapping case: Nicolas Sarkozy retried Monday on appeal for corruption

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