Sarkozy on trial

Paris: Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial today, accused of trying to bribe a judge and of influencepeddling, one of several criminal investigations that threaten to cast an ignominious pall over his decadeslong political career.

Prosecutors allege Sarkozy offered to secure a plum job in Monaco for judge Gilbert Azibert in return for confidential information about an inquiry into claims that Sarkozy had accepted illegal payments from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt for his 2007 presidential campaign.

Sarkozy, who led France in 200712, has denied any wrongdoing in all the investigations against him. — Reuters