Sarkozy’s lawyers said the former president plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

France’s top court has upheld the 2021 conviction of former President Nicolas Sarkozy on corruption and influence peddling charges.

The Supreme Court issued its ruling on Wednesday.

Sarkozy appeals convictionso he was sentenced to three years in prison. Two years of the sentence were suspended and Sarkozy will wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for the remaining year rather than go to jail.

Sarkozy’s lawyer Patrick Spinosi said the former president plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

Sarkozy wrote on social media platform

“I want to state again that I am obviously innocent,” he added.

Spinosi confirmed that Sarkozy will abide by the court’s decision and wear electronic tags.

Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty by a lower court of trying to bribe a judge and use his influence in exchange for confidential information about his 2007 campaign finance investigation.

The court found that Sarkozy conspired to secure a job in Monaco for Judge Gilbert Azibert in exchange for inside information regarding an investigation into allegations that Sarkozy received illegal payments from L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt. Azibert was also found guilty of corruption and influence peddling.

In addition to this case, Sarkozy, who retired from public life in 2017, faces further corruption charges. He is due to stand trial next year on suspicion of illegally financing the 2007 presidential campaign Claims to be funded by the Libyan government. Sarkozy denies all accusations. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

Sarkozy’s conviction makes him the second French president in modern history to be found guilty on corruption charges. His conservative predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was convicted of corruption in 2011, four years after leaving office.