Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president, appeared in court on Tuesday, to face the issue of his finance scandal during the 2012 French election campaign period. Sarkozy allegedly was able to spend so much more than the allowed campaign spending limit of 22.5 million euros ($25 million). The activities on financial inconsistencies are greatly connected to the president's public relations firm, Bygmalion, according to AFP.
It is said that the accounting department of the PR firm charged 18.5 million euros ($20 million) to the UMP - the party of Sarkozy during that time - instead of charging the expenses to Sarkozy's campaign, AFP added.
Bygmalion employees, including the firm's accountant and the campaign team leader, have admitted to the fraud, but no one accused the former president of knowing about the fraudulent activities, which is also what the Sarkozy has stood by since the issue erupted in 2012, an election that he lost to Francois Hollande, according to The Peninsula.
A total of 13 people from Bygmalion and the UMP have been charged with fraud, abuse of confidence or illegal campaign financing, The Peninsula added.
