Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving a five-year prison sentence in Paris after being convicted of participating in a criminal organisation linked to alleged campaign financing from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Sarkozy, 70, arrived at La Santé prison on Tuesday, where his fingerprints and photograph were taken, and he was issued a prisoner identification number, according to French media reports.
Despite his conviction, the former president maintained his innocence, calling the verdict a “judicial scandal.”
In a statement posted on X, Sarkozy said he would “continue to denounce this injustice,” insisting that the case was built on falsified evidence.
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The Paris court had found him guilty in late September and ordered immediate enforcement of his sentence, even as he filed an appeal.
Due to his age, Sarkozy may apply for conditional release, a privilege available to French inmates aged 70 and above, which allows them to serve their term under restricted supervision outside prison.
Before his imprisonment, Sarkozy was reportedly received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, while France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans to visit him in prison.
The charges stem from allegations that Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign illegally received funds from Gaddafi’s regime — accusations he has long denied.
Although the court said there was no direct evidence of illegal payments, it concluded that Sarkozy had “attempted to solicit” financial support from the Libyan leader.
He is currently being held in a special unit for high-profile inmates at La Santé prison, where cells measure between nine and twelve square metres and include basic amenities such as a shower, desk, refrigerator, and television.
French media report that Sarkozy plans to write a book about his time behind bars.
Story credit: People’s gazette
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