Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with Libyan funds, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The ruling marks the first time in modern French history that a former president will serve time behind bars. 

The court in Paris said Sarkozy, 70, would not be taken into custody immediately, but will begin serving his sentence on a date to be determined later.

A Paris court sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison. (Thibault Camus/AP)

Former Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux received a two-year sentence to be served under electronic monitoring.

Claude Guéant, Sarkozy’s ex-chief of staff, was sentenced to six years in prison but spared immediate incarceration for health reasons. 

Judges said the men had secretly met with Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi, brother-in-law of Moammar Gadhafi, as part of a “corruption pact.”

The court also noted it could not prove Libyan funds directly reached Sarkozy’s campaign but said French law allows conviction if corrupt intent is established, even without a financial transfer.

Sarkozy has since vowed to appeal.

The case traces back to 2011, when Libyan officials claimed Tripoli funneled millions of euros to Sarkozy’s campaign. 

He has also faced multiple legal battles since leaving office, including separate convictions for corruption and illegal campaign financing.