A Paris court on Thursday sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison after finding him guilty of a criminal conspiracy linked to allegations that late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi helped finance his 2007 presidential campaign.

The court ruled that Sarkozy, 70, must be taken into custody at a later date. Prosecutors have one month to notify him of when he will begin serving his sentence. The order remains binding even if the former head of state files an appeal.

If jailed, Sarkozy would become the first president in modern French history to serve time behind bars. In addition to the prison term, he was fined €100,000 ($117,000) and barred from holding public office.

Sarkozy has already been convicted in two separate trials but managed to avoid imprisonment—one sentence was served under electronic surveillance, a restriction that has since been lifted.

While his legal team has vowed to appeal, Sarkozy may also seek parole on account of his age. Presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino described the offences as of “exceptional gravity” and warned they were “likely to undermine the confidence of citizens.”