🔗 Share this article Nicolas Sarkozy Portrays Existence in Prison as ‘Gruelling’ and ‘a Nightmare’ The former French president has declared that his period of incarceration has been “exhausting” and an “ordeal” as he was present via remote connection at a court hearing regarding his request to complete his jail term at home. Legal Proceeding from Prison Sarkozy, dressed in a dark blue attire, appeared on camera from prison on Monday, positioned at a desk with his legal representatives beside him. He told the court: “I want to acknowledge all the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this nightmare bearable – because it is a nightmare.” Context of the Case The former president entered La Santé prison in Paris on 21 October, after being handed a five-year jail sentence for criminal conspiracy over a scheme to obtain funds for his election bid from the government of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He has appealed against the ruling, but the court ruled that because of the “exceptional gravity” of his guilty verdict, he had to be incarcerated while the appeals process took its course. Historical Importance Sarkozy, who served as France’s conservative leader between 2007 and 2012, is the first former head of an EU country to serve time in prison, and the first French postwar leader to be incarcerated. Personal Statement The former president told the court from prison: “I never had any idea or desire to ask Mr Gaddafi for any kind of financing … I will not admit to something I didn’t do … I never imagined that at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal that has been imposed on me. I admit it’s difficult, it’s extremely challenging. It leaves a mark on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.” He said he would not attempt to enter into contact with any defendants or witnesses in the case. He said: “I’m French, I love my country, my family is in France. This situation has caused them pain a lot.” Legal Team Comments Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois, sitting next to him in the prison video link room, stated: “Being in solitary confinement has been very hard for him.” He said of Sarkozy: “He’s a resilient, robust and courageous man and this detention has caused him great suffering.” In court, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, Christophe Ingrain, who had seen him daily, said Sarkozy would be more secure outside jail than within. “He has faced death threats, has listened to shouts at night and the emergency response in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner injured themselves,” he said. Current Status The public attorney Damien Brunet requested that Sarkozy’s petition for freedom be approved. The court will announce its decision on Monday afternoon. Incarceration Details The former president has been placed in isolation for his own safety, in an private room of about 97 square feet, with his own shower and toilet. Two bodyguards are stationed nearby to ensure his safety. Reports indicated that he had been eating only yoghurt in prison as he was concerned any meal might have been tampered with. He had been offered the facilities to cook for himself but refused this. Encouragement from Outside Sarkozy’s social media account last week posted a recording of piles of letters, cards and packages it claimed had been delivered to his attention, including a collection, a sweet treat and a volume. “No letter will go unanswered,” his account declared. “The end of the story has not yet been written.” Personal Belongings The former leader took into prison a life story of Christ as well as the classic novel, the famous work in which an wrongly accused individual is imprisoned but breaks out to seek retribution. Court Case Particulars During Sarkozy’s three-month trial, the state attorney had told the court that Sarkozy entered into a “corrupt agreement” of dishonesty with one of the worst rulers of the last three decades. The accused denied wrongdoing and stated he had not been part of a criminal conspiracy to seek election funding from Libya. He was acquitted of three separate charges of corruption, improper handling of state money and unlawful political financing. After the public attorney also appealed against these acquittals, Sarkozy will be re-tried on all the accusations next year, including illegal collaboration. Prior Legal Issues Although the claims of a clandestine financial agreement with the Libyan regime formed the biggest corruption trial Sarkozy had faced, he had already been found guilty in two separate cases and stripped of France’s highest distinction, the Légion d’honneur. Sarkozy had previously become the first former French head of state forced to wear an electronic tag after being convicted in a separate case of corruption and influence peddling. In that situation, he was given a one-year jail term but was able to complete it with an electronic tag attached to his leg. He had the device for three months before being allowed limited freedom.