New Delhi, Jan. 6 -- A Paris court found Monday 10 people guilty of cyberbullying France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, including allegations that she was born a male.

One defendant was sentenced to six months in prison, while eight were handed suspended sentences between four and eight months. All 10 were ordered to attend cyberbullying awareness training.

The court pointed to "particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious" comments referring to false claims suggesting that Brigitte Macron was transgender and a pedophile.

"Repeated publications have had cumulative harmful effects," the court said.

The defendants, eight men and two women ranging in age from 41 to 65, ...