PARIS, France — FORMER French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday became the first ex-head of state from a European Union country to be jailed, after being convicted of seeking illegal campaign funding from late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi.
Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, began his prison sentence at La Santé Prison in Paris following his conviction last month for criminal conspiracy. The court found he conspired to secure funds from Kadhafi’s regime to support his 2007 presidential campaign.
The 70-year-old, who has appealed the verdict, left his Paris home Tuesday morning and entered the prison under tight security. His lawyer Christophe Ingrain said a request had been filed for his release pending appeal, but confirmed he would spend at least “three weeks to a month” behind bars.
Convicts reportedly shouted “Welcome Sarkozy!” as he arrived. In a defiant post on X (formerly Twitter), Sarkozy declared his innocence, saying, “It is not a former president being jailed this morning, but an innocent man. The truth will prevail.”
To ensure his safety, Sarkozy is being held in solitary confinement in a nine-square-meter cell, accompanied by two security officers stationed nearby. He is allowed daily exercise alone and may receive visits three times a week. His wife, singer Carla Bruni, and his lawyers visited him Tuesday evening.
“The first day in prison is terrible, but he got through it,” said lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois.
Sarkozy is the first French leader jailed since Philippe Pétain, the head of the Nazi-collaborationist regime during World War II.
His legal troubles extend beyond the Libyan funding case. He was previously convicted for corruption and influence peddling, serving part of that sentence under house arrest with an electronic tag. Another case, involving alleged illegal financing of his 2012 re-election campaign, awaits a Supreme Court ruling next month.
Despite the court’s finding of conspiracy, Sarkozy was acquitted of embezzlement, passive corruption, and illicit campaign financing. However, the verdict further tarnishes his legacy; he has already been stripped of France’s Legion of Honour following earlier convictions.| – BNN Integrated News |TheMetroTimes.ph
