Nicolas Sarkozy and Claude Guéant during a visit to Corsica in April 2012. In the trial on suspicions of Libyan financing from 2007, their versions differ on the circulation of information.
On Tuesday, April 14th, during the 13th day of the appeal trial of the Libyan case, Claude Guéant’s response to Nicolas Sarkozy’s accusations was brought up at the hearing. This trial concerns suspicions of Libyan financing for the 2007 presidential campaign, which the former head of state disputes. Absent for health reasons, the former General Secretary of the Élysée had his lawyer read out a certificate intended to respond to the criticisms made against him.
Lawyer Philippe Bouchez El Ghozi denounced “extremely violent criticisms of (his) probity” and mentioned a “deep bruising” in his client. In this written document, Claude Guéant denies any personal involvement in potential financial flows: “I have never in my life received or solicited money from anyone. To imply otherwise is serious.”
In this case, the former right-hand man of Nicolas Sarkozy is suspected of having had contacts with Libyan intermediaries and received money in this context, which he denies.
For several hearings, Nicolas Sarkozy has emphasized elements of the case that he claims to have discovered during the proceedings. In court, he expresses his anger at certain facts that he does not link to his duties and refers to his former collaborators, in particular Claude Guéant.
Claude Guéant’s lawyer’s response directly targets this line of defense. He reproaches Nicolas Sarkozy for advancing hypotheses about his client, but then rejecting them once they concern him.
Two conflicting versions on the information
The certificate also revisits key episodes of the case, including exchanges with Libyan officials. Claude Guéant claims to have acted within a known framework and assures that he informed Nicolas Sarkozy about certain steps. He mentions in particular a scene during an official trip in 2007: “Claude, look at this,” the President of the Republic allegedly asked him about Abdallah Senoussi, the brother-in-law of dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
A central figure in the Libyan regime, Abdallah Senoussi was convicted for the UTA DC-10 attack. His exchanges with Nicolas Sarkozy’s entourage raise questions for the judiciary about possible political or judicial quid pro quos.
A version that Nicolas Sarkozy disputes. In court, he maintains that he was not aware of such elements and emphasizes his surprise at certain information revealed by the investigation, while recalling the professional qualities he previously recognized in his former collaborator.
