Day of interrogation at the appeal trial of Nicolas Sarkozy in the Bygmalion case, in Paris. The former President of the Republic denies any “criminal responsibility” in the case.
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“I vigorously contest any criminal liability because I had no knowledge of the fraud“, declared Friday, November 24, former President Nicolas Sarkozy, at the start of his intervention at the bar, during his appeal trial in the Bygmalion case. The trial began on November 8 at the Paris Court of Appeal.
The day is devoted to his interrogation. The former president once again appears very combative and even categorical from his opening remarks, denying having “had knowledge of the fraud”. On the other hand, Nicolas Sarkozy acknowledges having assumed his “political responsibility, by finding 10.5 million euros from people who love me, what we called the ‘Sarkothon’“.
“My campaign cost the taxpayer nothing.”
Nicolas Sarkozy, former President of the Republicduring his appeal trial
“I have a second responsibility, administrative, continues Nicolas Sarkozy, for the excess of 450,000 euros, pointed out by the Constitutional Council: I was sanctioned with 363,000 euros which I paid myself, it is 100 times the amount of the fine for the offense for which I am pursued” Despite everything, he forgets to mention the main sentence imposed at first instance, namely one year in prison under house arrest under an electronic bracelet.
Nicolas Sarkozy goes even further by directly accusing, and again, the leaders of Bygmalion. He had already done so at first instance where the former head of state had then accused Bygmalion of having “glutted”. Bygmalion was founded by relatives of Jean-François Copé, his rival who then led the UMP.
“There is a fraud in this affair, it is undeniable”
Nicolas Sarkozyduring his trial
“Did this scam benefit me? I violently dispute it”, he assures. The president of the court then asks him if this system was “set up to help the President win”. To which he responds: “No Madam. It was set up behind the back of my team to make money for a certain number of people”. Nicolas Sarkozy then points out the dividends pocketed by the managers of Bygmalion and its subsidiary Event et Compagnie: 1,700,000 euros. “It’s not the 20 million budget overrun”cuts the president.
“The system of false invoices was between the UMP and the suppliers, not between the campaign team and the suppliers”adds Nicolas Sarkozy who denounces the “lies” of Jérôme Lavrilleux, the former deputy campaign director who was questioned on Thursday, November 23. Close to Jean-François Copé, he describes a system “benefit” by Nicolas Sarkozy. Jérôme Lavrilleux absent on Friday November 24, undoubtedly to avoid the blows from the former head of state.
A 43 million euro campaign
Until now, the former tenant of the Élysée had only appeared on the first day of this trial. Unlike his nine co-defendants, the former president is not accused of the system of false invoices itself, designed to hide the explosion in his campaign’s expenses.
This cost nearly 43 million euros, when the legal ceiling was set at 22.5 million euros. At first instance, Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to one year in prison.