Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy (left) arrives for a hearing of his trial on corruption charges on Tuesday at a Paris courthouse. Prosecutors say Sarkozy promised the judge a plush job in Monaco in exchange for inside information on a separate inquiry into claims he had accepted illicit payments from L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt during his 2007 presidential campaign. Sarkozy is the first modern French president to face corruption charges. Photo: AFP