Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a trial over alleged secret funding from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential campaign, though he was acquitted of corruption, misuse of Libyan public funds, and illegal campaign financing.

Sarkozy, 70, denies wrongdoing and is expected to appeal.

The court heard prosecutors’ claims that Sarkozy and his aides struck a “corruption pact” with Gaddafi in 2005, promising diplomatic and business favors in exchange for campaign funds.

Key allies Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux were also convicted, while Éric Woerth was acquitted.

This marks Sarkozy’s third high-profile conviction; he previously served an electronic-tagged sentence for corruption and faces another appeal over illegal campaign spending in 2012.

Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy remains influential in French politics, The Guardian has reported.

The case was further complicated by the recent death of Ziad Takieddine, a businessman who had claimed to deliver Libyan cash to Sarkozy’s campaign.