A Paris court has sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy related to his 2007 presidential campaign. The court ruled on Thursday that Sarkozy, 70, was involved in a scheme to secure campaign financing from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors during the regime of Muammar Gadhafi.

The court's decision marks a significant moment in French political history, as it is the first time a former president has received such a sentence. Despite the ruling, Sarkozy will remain free to appeal, although the court indicated that he would begin serving his sentence shortly, allowing him only a brief period to arrange his affairs.

Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal association for allowing his close aides to seek financial support from Libyan authorities. However, he was acquitted of three other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. The court noted that while it believed there was a conspiracy to obtain Libyan funds, it could not definitively prove that any money reached Sarkozy's campaign.

During the trial, which lasted three months and included 11 co-defendants, Sarkozy maintained his innocence. He described the ruling as a "scandalous injustice" and expressed his determination to appeal. "If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high," he stated after the verdict.

The allegations against Sarkozy date back to 2011, when claims emerged that the Libyan government had funneled millions of euros into his campaign. A 2012 report by a French investigative outlet suggested a 50 million-euro funding agreement, which Sarkozy dismissed as a forgery. The court acknowledged that the document in question likely was a forgery.

Sarkozy's legal troubles have been extensive since leaving office in 2012. He was previously convicted of corruption and influence peddling in a separate case, which resulted in a sentence requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device for a year. He was granted conditional release earlier this year after serving just over three months with the device.

Despite these legal challenges, Sarkozy remains a prominent figure in French politics, particularly within right-wing circles. He has been involved in discussions with current political leaders and continues to influence the political landscape, even as he faces multiple legal battles.