Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case linked to illicit campaign funding from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris criminal court acquitted him of passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, but ruled he had allowed aides to seek financial support from Libyan officials during his 2007 election campaign. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, denies wrongdoing and announced plans to appeal.

The court also ordered him to pay a €100,000 fine. Other figures, including former interior minister Claude Guéant, were also convicted. Sarkozy could be sent to prison in the coming days, a first for a former French president. The investigation began in 2013, following accusations from Gaddafi’s son and Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine. Sarkozy has faced several legal cases since leaving office, including convictions for corruption and campaign overspending.