French court finds former top Sarkozy aides guilty in polling fraud trial

FILE PHOTO: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives to meet the readers of his latest book "Promenades" at a bookstore in Paris, France, October 2, 2021. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - A French court on Friday sentenced two one-time aides to former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to jail for their role in the misuse of public funds to finance opinion poll contracts.

Five of Sarkozy’s former aides and allies from his time as president between 2007 and 2012 were on trial on charges of favoritism, conspiracy and misuse of public funds over the awarding of contracts worth 7.5 million euros ($8.5 million)