FRENCH COURT REJECTS SARKOZY'S ATTEMPT TO MERGE SENTENCES

PARIS, March 10 (Bernama-dpa) -- A Paris court on Monday rejected former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s request to merge a sentence served under electronic ankle tagging in another case with a prison sentence, preventing him from avoiding six months in jail, reported German Press Agency (dpa). 

According to French media reports, Sarkozy, 71, can still appeal.

Despite the sentence, he may not have to serve time in prison, as the sentence for illegal election financing could potentially be converted to another period under electronic tagging.

The ongoing case concerns Sarkozy's failed re-election attempt in 2012 and the funds used. Under French law, election expenditure is capped to give candidates an equal chance.

The amount permitted in 2012 was €22.5 million (US$26.1 million), while the appeal court found that Sarkozy's team had spent almost twice that.

To cover up the overspending, expenses were allegedly disguised through a system of fictitious invoices by his Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, now renamed The Republicans.

Although Sarkozy is not said to have invented the system, he reportedly ignored warnings.

In total, he was sentenced to one year in prison, six months of which are suspended.

Sarkozy has always denied the allegations.

At the start of last year, he wore an electronic tag for three months after being found guilty of bribery and unlawful influence peddling, charges he denied

 It was this sentence that he sought to have taken into account.

The former president’s appeal over alleged Libyan funding begins next week.

He was previously sentenced to five years by a lower court and served a short time in prison.

-- BERNAMA-dpa