Sarkozy a No-Show as Second Criminal Trial Begins in Paris
Ex-president is accused of deliberately exceeding campaign spending limits in 2012
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Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy didn’t show up for his second criminal trial in six months, in a case where judges will scrutinize whether he deliberately broke campaign spending limits in his failed 2012 reelection bid.
French investigators say Sarkozy ignored accountants' warnings as his relentless campaigning racked up costs of at least 42.8 million euros ($52.3 million), or about twice as much as was legally allowed. The former head of state, who is under no obligation to appear in court at the onset of the trial, is expected to testify last of all the defendants. He faces a maximum one-year jail term.