A Paris court on Thursday sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy in an alleged scheme to finance his 2007 campaign with funds from Libya.

In a surprise decision, the court ruled that he will be incarcerated even if he appeals. But it also said the sentencing date would take place at a later time, sparing the 70-year-old the humiliation of being led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

“I ask the French people — whether they voted for me or not, whether they support me or not — to grasp what has just happened. Hatred truly knows no bounds," he said, reacting to the sentence.

The court found Sarkozy guilty of criminal association in a plot from 2005 to 2007 to finance his campaign with funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors. But it cleared him of three other charges — including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of the embezzlement of public funds.

Sarkozy denounced the ruling, saying he was the victim of scandalous injustice and that he would appeal.