Nicolas Sarkozy loses first appeal over corruption trial

Mr Sarkozy is suspected of helping a prosecutor secure a promotion in return for leaked information.

Sarkozy lost presidential immunity from legal prosecution a month after he left office.AFP

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday lost a first appeal against facing trial over influence peddling and corruption charges and must await a second appeal before knowing if he will be sent to court, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

Mr Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, is suspected of helping a prosecutor get promoted in return for leaked information about a separate criminal inquiry.

Investigators were using phone-taps to examine allegations that late Libyan leader Muanmar Gaddafi funded Mr Sarkozy's election campaign when they began to suspect the former French leader had used a network of informants to keep tabs on the criminal case.

It was unclear when the next appeal decision would come.

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Mr Sarkozy was defeated by Socialist Francois Hollande when he ran for re-election in 2012. He has since faced a series of investigations into alleged corruption, fraud, favoritism and campaign-funding irregularities.

Under French law, a suspect is not formally charged with a crime unless he is sent to trial. Influence-peddling can be punished in France by up to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros ($Dh2100000).