Nicholas Sarkozy, the former French President who led the NATO blitz against Libyan leader Col. Muamar Gaddafi has been sent to jail for 5 years.
Sarkozy was yesterday afternoon found guilty of “criminal conspiracy in a case related to millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi,” according to Reuters.
On October 20, 2011, the Libyan strongman was pulled out of a tunnel he had sought refuge and bludgeoned to death by a mob of youth, after about 7 months of NATO’s Airforce pummeling Libya.
The leader of that operation was France, under the Presidency of Nicholas Sarkozy.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International among others criticized the killing of Gaddafi and called for an investigation into how he died, although an amateur video was circulated on the internet showing his killing.
But before Gaddafi died, his heir-apparent and son, Saif-al-Islam wondered why a man they had brought to power in France through financing his campaign in 2007, was now hell-bent on killing his father.
Two years after the death of Gaddafi, an inquiry was launched against Sarkozy in France, almost a year after losing his second stab at the presidency in 2012.
The case that has dragged on for more than a decade was brought to its end yesterday by judge Nathalie Gavarino in Paris. He was also ordered to pay a fine of one hundred thousand Euros.
Sarkozy claims that the case is politically motivated. “What happened today is of extreme gravity in regard to the rule of law, and for the trust that one can have in the justice system. If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high.” Sarkozy told the media.
