FORMER French president Nicolas Sarkozy went on trial today over allegedly illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of then Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gadaffi.

Mr Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, did not speak to the press on arrival at the Paris court. He has denied any wrongdoing.

He faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association, punished by up to 10 years in prison.

The trial also involves 11 other defendants, including three former ministers. 

Mr Sarkozy’s lawyer Christophe Ingrain said in a statement that “there was no Libyan financing of the campaign” and that his client was looking forward to the hearings “with determination.”

The case emerged in March 2011, when a Libyan news agency reported that Libya had financed Mr Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. 

In an interview, Col Gadaffi himself said that “it's thanks to us that he reached the presidency. We provided him with the funds that allowed him to win,” without specifying an amount or giving other details.

Mr Sarkozy became one of the first Western leaders to push for the military intervention in Libya in March 2011 that led to Col Gadaffi being killed by opposition fighters.

The former president has been convicted over two other scandals involving corruption and illegal campaign financing.