Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy vigorously denounced a “plot” he said was staged by “liars and crooks” at a trial over the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the Libyan government led by former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Former French president Nicholas Sarkozy went on trial January 6 for allegedly accepting some €50 million from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to fund his successful 2007 presidential bid . The

Nicolas Sarkozy, who has already been convicted in two other cases, faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association,