A Paris court has found guilty of corruption and influence peddling and sentenced him to one year in prison and a two-year suspended sentence.
The 66-year-old politician, who was president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted for having tried to illegally obtain information from a senior magistrate in 2014 about a legal action in which he was involved.
It is the first time that a former French head of state has had to answer in person in court for corruption.
Prosecutors said Sarkozy and his attorney wanted to bribe Judge Gilbert Azibert in exchange for information about an investigation into payments Sarkozy received during his 2007 presidential campaign among other accusations.
The court said Sarkozy will be entitled to request to be detained at home with an electronic bracelet.
His two co-defendants were convicted of the same offenses and given the same sentence.
