A+ A-

France's "Mediapart" says proof exists Sarkozy took Libyan money

PARIS, Sept 27 (KUNA) -- French online news service "Mediapart" said on Tuesday that French investigating magistrates were in possession of a notebook belonging to former Libyan Prime Minister and Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem, which contained proof that former French President Nicolas Sarkozy received funds from Libya to finance his successful presidential campaign in 2007.
There have been ongoing allegations here against Sarkozy, who is seeking to run again in 2017, that he received up to Euros 50 million from the regime of ousted Libyan dictator Moammer Qaddafi nine years ago. The former president strongly denies the allegations first brandished by "Mediapart" several years ago and which were based on testimony and documents from several former Libyan government officials and a translator.
Now, the French media says that the notebook which belonged to Shukri Ghanem, and which was found floating in the Danube river in Austria, specifies payments made to Sarkozy and these amounts total at least Euros 6.5 million during his election in 2007.
An investigation into these allegations has been ongoing for three years and Sarkozy sued "Mediapart" for its claims but the case was thrown out of court.
The notebook was found in the Danube, where Ghanem's body was also discovered in April 2012, shortly after the first revelations of a potential scandal involving Sarkozy and Libyan financing. It took some time for it to end up in the hands of investigating magistrates here.
The Justice Department has not commented on the case as is usual practice here.
Ghanem's death was ruled accidental drowning but his legacy in the form of his notebook apparently indicates dates of payments to Sarkozy and various origins of the Euros 6.5 million allegedly handed over. Some sources of the funds were governmental and others were from individuals, including Qaddafi's son, Saif Al-Islam. (end) jk.mt