Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has commenced serving his five-year prison term following a conviction for receiving millions of euros from deceased Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to support his 2007 electoral bid. Sarkozy, 70, who governed France from 2007 to 2012, has been confined in a nine-square-meter cell at La Santé prison in Paris. The historic prison, known for housing notorious criminals and conducting guillotine executions until 1972, is currently overcrowded, accommodating 1,243 inmates despite a capacity of only 657.
Sarkozy is reportedly held in a solitary cell within the isolation wing for security reasons, where inmates spend most of their time alone with limited outdoor access and restricted communication. The former president’s cell is equipped with basic amenities like a toilet, shower, desk, small electric hob, and a television for a monthly fee. He is under continuous police protection due to perceived threats against him, with two officers stationed nearby for added security.
An inmate threatening Sarkozy in a video prompted concerns, referencing Gaddafi and Ziad Takieddine, a key witness in the case who died under mysterious circumstances earlier this year. Despite maintaining his innocence, Sarkozy faces the harsh realities of isolation and confinement in his cell. His family, including wife Carla Bruni, will be allowed three visits per week, and Sarkozy plans to write a book during his incarceration.
In September, Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy related to the alleged transfer of funds from Libya for his campaign, a charge he vehemently denies. His legal team has appealed the verdict, and the court has two months to review the case. Despite assertions from his lawyer that he is not receiving special treatment, Sarkozy’s time in prison is marked by the challenges of noise and confinement within the facility.