French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to three years in jail on corruption charges. He was convicted of trying to bribe a judge in 2014, after he had left office, by suggesting he could secure a prestigious job for him in return for information about a separate case. Sarkozy, 66, is the first former French president to get a custodial sentence. His lawyer says he will appeal. Sarkozy will remain free during that process which could take years. If Sarkozy's appeal is unsuccessful, he could serve a year at home with an electronic tag, rather than go to prison. His wife, supermodel & singer Carla Bruni, reacted by describing the case as "senseless persecution", adding that "the fight continued, and truth would come out". Despite his legal woes he has remained popular in right-wing circles, a year away from another presidential election.