Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison.

The former leader, 70, was found guilty of criminal conspiracy, but not guilty of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and concealing the embezzlement of public funds.

The three-month court case in Paris was over the alleged illegal financing of Sarkozy 's 2007 presidential election campaign by the government of late Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi.

In a surprise move, the judge said he would be jailed regardless of whether he appeals the verdict, which usually suspends sentencing. He was not sent straight to prison, however, with the start date of his sentence yet to be decided.

Sarkozy still vowed to appeal regardless, telling reporters outside court on Thursday: "This injustice is

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