JUST IN: Former President Convicted of Criminal Conspiracy

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A Paris court on Thursday found former French president Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy in his long-running trial over alleged Libyan funding for his 2007 presidential campaign, though he was cleared of corruption and illegal campaign financing charges.

Sarkozy, 70, who governed France from 2007 to 2012, has already been convicted in two separate cases and stripped of the nation’s highest honor.

Presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino ruled that Sarkozy, in his capacity as minister and party leader, “allowed his close collaborators and political supporters over whom he had authority” to seek financial support from Libyan officials. However, the court noted that prosecutors failed to establish that Sarkozy personally received illicit funds.

Prosecutors had sought a seven-year prison term, with sentencing to be determined at a later date. Sarkozy appeared in court with his wife, model and musician Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

Two of his long-time allies were also convicted: Claude Guéant, his former chief of staff, for passive corruption and falsification; and former minister Brice Hortefeux, for criminal conspiracy. Campaign treasurer Eric Woerth was acquitted.

The verdict came just two days after the death of Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who had at various times claimed, retracted, and contradicted allegations that Sarkozy received up to €5 million in cash from late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi.

The case rests on testimonies from former Libyan officials, suspicious financial transactions, trips to Libya