A Paris appeals court made a significant decision on Monday, ordering the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison. This development comes just three weeks into a five-year sentence, with the court deciding to place him under judicial supervision instead.
The Release and the "Nightmare" of Imprisonment
Later on Monday afternoon, Sarkozy left the La Sante prison in Paris. Earlier in the day, the 70-year-old former leader had appeared before the appeal court via a video call from his prison cell. He was seen wearing a dark blue jacket and was flanked by his legal team.
During the hearing, Sarkozy described his experience of imprisonment as a "nightmare". He told the court, "It's hard, very hard, certainly for any prisoner. I would even say it's grueling." He did, however, acknowledge that the prison staff had made this difficult experience "bearable" for him.
The Libyan Case and the Conviction
The case that led to this unprecedented situation is known as the "Libyan case" in French media. The core accusation is that Sarkozy sought to acquire millions in funding from the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi for his successful 2007 presidential election campaign.
While the court did not rule that Sarkozy ultimately received or used the alleged funds, it found him guilty of criminal conspiracy for being part of the plan. A lower court had delivered this verdict in September, leading to his incarceration starting October 21.
This event marked a historic and grim milestone, making Nicolas Sarkozy the first former head of a European Union member state to be incarcerated. The allegations have been circulating since 2011 and gained significant traction in 2016.
Courtroom Drama and Judicial Supervision
The appeal court's decision to grant Sarkozy's release request was supported by the prosecutor, Damien Brunet. Brunet argued that the risks of collusion and witness pressure justified releasing Sarkozy under strict judicial supervision.
The hearing was a moment of high drama, with Sarkozy's wife, the famous singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, present in the courtroom. Two of the former president's sons were also there to show their support.
This is not the only legal trouble for the former president. Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, has already been convicted in separate, unrelated cases concerning corruption and influence peddling.
