Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of France, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of criminal conspiracy related to financing his 2007 presidential run with Libyan money, as reported by The Associated Press on Thursday.

The ruling marks the first time in modern French history that a former president will serve time behind bars. 

The Paris court ordered that Sarkozy, 70, will not be immediately taken into custody. He is scheduled to start his prison term at a later, unspecified date.

A Paris court sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison. (Thibault Camus/AP)

Former Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux received a two-year sentence to be served under electronic monitoring.

Claude Guéant, Sarkozy’s ex-chief of staff, was sentenced to six years in prison but spared immediate incarceration for health reasons. 

Judges stated that the men had clandestinely met with Libya’s intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Senoussi, who was Moammar Gadhafi’s brother-in-law, as part of a “corruption pact.”

The court also mentioned that although they could not conclusively prove Libyan money reached Sarkozy’s campaign, French law permits conviction if corrupt intent is demonstrated, even without evidence of financial transactions.

Sarkozy has since vowed to appeal.

The case traces back to 2011, when Libyan officials claimed Tripoli funneled millions of euros to Sarkozy’s campaign. 

He has also faced multiple legal battles since leaving office, including separate convictions for corruption and illegal campaign financing.