Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy, accused of receiving around $50 million in laundered cash from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 election campaign.

The Paris Correctional Court found Sarkozy guilty of conspiring with close aides, including ex-chief of staff Claude Guéant, who was sentenced to six years, while another minister,

Brice Hortefeux, received a two-year electronic bracelet sentence. Sarkozy was acquitted of receiving stolen public funds and passive corruption but will also pay a €100,000 fine.

The court ruled the crimes “exceptionally serious,” marking the first time a former French president has been convicted of using foreign funds in this way.

Evidence included notes from Lebanese arms dealer Zaid Takieddine, who allegedly delivered the cash to Sarkozy’s aides in suitcases; Takieddine was recently found dead in Beirut.

Sarkozy had previously been convicted in other corruption and illegal campaign funding cases and has worn an electronic tag under house arrest, the Metro has reported.

The historic verdict follows a decade-long investigation, highlighting the unprecedented legal accountability of a former French head of state.