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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with Libyan funds, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The ruling marks the first time in modern French history that a former president will serve time behind bars.

The court in Paris said Sarkozy, 70, would not be taken into custody immediately, but will begin serving his sentence on a date to be determined later.

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“If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison. But with my head held high. I am innocent. This injustice is a scandal,” Sarkozy said outside the courthous

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