SARKOZY. Nicolas Sarkozy’s appeal trial opens this Monday, December 5, 2022 before the Paris Court of Appeal, in the context of the so-called “wiretapping” case. He was sentenced in March 2021 to three years in prison, including one year.
Nicolas Sarkozy finds himself once again in court. This Monday, December 5, 2022 opens the appeal trial of the former head of state before the Paris Court of Appeal, in the context of the so-called “wiretapping” case. His lawyer Thierry Herzog and ex-magistrate Gilbert Azibert are also called to appear. The “wiretapping” affair began at the end of 2013. At the time, the justice system was investigating suspicions of Libyan financing of the victorious presidential campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. The judges then decided to put the former president tapped, but realize in the context of these investigations that he is talking with his lawyer, Me Thierry Herzog, through another line, via a second telephone with a prepaid chip. This “occult” line was tapped in January 2014.
By analyzing these taps, the magistrates discover that the two men seem to be aware of information which is nevertheless covered by secrecy. In total, 19 conversations between the former head of state and his lawyer are listed by the judges. During their discussions, they repeatedly mention a contact by the name of “Gilbert” who works at the Court of Cassation. This is Me Gilbert Azibert, who was then first general counsel at the Court of Cassation.
At the time, the Court of Cassation must render an expected decision on the subject of the seizure of Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential diaries in the context of the Bettencourt affair. The former head of state is then prosecuted for “abuse of weakness” on Liliane Bettencourt, recalls franceinfo. Nicolas Sarkozy finally benefits from a dismissal in this case, but maintains his appeal in cassation so that the information contained in his presidential diaries cannot reappear in other legal proceedings.
During a conversation between Me Thierry Herzog and Nicolas Sarkozy, the two men evoke a service that the former head of state could render to Gilbert Azibert. “He spoke to me about something about Monaco”, indicates the lawyer to the former President of the Republic. This “thing about Monaco” is actually a position at the Council of State in Monaco. Justice therefore suspects Nicolas Sarkozy and Thierry Herzog of having tried to obtain information, or even of having tried to influence the decision of the Court of Cassation on the presidential agendas, through Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for an honorary position for the ex-magistrate.
In March 2021, Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison, including one year firm, in the “wiretapping” case for “corruption and influence peddling” by the Paris Criminal Court. He later appealed the decision. At the time, the court considered that a “corruption pact” had been concluded between Nicolas Sarkozy, Me Thierry Herzog and Gilbert Azibert. Christine Mée, president of the 32nd correctional chamber of Paris, then declared that Nicolas Sarkozy had “used his status as former president to gratify a magistrate who served his personal interest” in statements reported by The world.
Thierry Herzog was also found guilty of “active corruption” and “violation of professional secrecy”, and was sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended, along with a ban on practicing as a lawyer for five year. Gilbert Azibert was found guilty of “passive corruption” and “concealment of breach of professional secrecy”, and was also sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended. Both the lawyer and the senior magistrate appealed against the conviction.
The appeal trial of Nicolas Sarkozy, his lawyer Thierry Herzog and the former high magistrate Gilbert Azibert, in the so-called “wiretapping” case, will be held from December 5 to 16, 2022 before the Paris Court of Appeal. . In March 2021, the former President of the Republic was sentenced at first instance for corruption and influence peddling to three years in prison, including one year. A historic decision for a former head of state. The main issue of this appeal trial lies in the severity of the sentences that could be pronounced against Nicolas Sarkozy. Indeed, the sentence pronounced in 2021 against the former President of the Republic is, within the framework of the law, convertible. For example, he could be placed under electronic surveillance. But, if the sentence pronounced against Nicolas Sarkozy at the end of the appeal trial were to be heavier than that pronounced at first instance, then the former head of state could find himself behind bars.