🔗 Share this article Nicolas Sarkozy Characterizes Existence in Prison as ‘Exhausting’ and ‘an Ordeal’ The former French president has stated that his time behind bars has been “exhausting” and a “nightmare” as he appeared via video link at a judicial proceeding regarding his petition to serve his sentence at home. Legal Proceeding from Behind Bars The former leader, dressed in a navy blue suit, appeared on camera from jail on Monday, positioned at a desk with his lawyers beside him. He told the court: “I want to acknowledge all the prison staff, who are remarkably compassionate, and who have made this nightmare bearable – because it is a horrific experience.” Context of the Case Sarkozy entered the correctional facility in Paris on 21 October, after being handed a half-decade imprisonment for criminal conspiracy over a scheme to secure financing for his 2007 presidential election campaign from the government of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He has challenged the ruling, but the court ruled that because of the “serious nature” of his conviction, he had to be incarcerated while the legal challenge took its course. Unprecedented Importance The former leader, who served as France’s conservative leader between 2007 and 2012, is the first former head of an EU country to be imprisoned in prison, and the first French postwar leader to be incarcerated. Personal Statement Sarkozy stated to the judges from prison: “I was completely unaware or intention to ask Mr Gaddafi for any kind of financing … I will not admit to something I am innocent of … I could not have foreseen that at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal that has been imposed on me. I confess it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.” He said he would not try to communicate with any accused individuals or witnesses in the case. He said: “I’m French, I love my country, my family is in France. This ordeal has made them suffer a lot.” Defense Lawyers Comments Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois, sitting next to him in the prison video link room, stated: “Being in isolation has been extremely difficult for him.” He commented on Sarkozy: “He’s a strong, robust and brave man and this detention has been very painful for him.” In court, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, Christophe Ingrain, who had seen him daily, said Sarkozy would be safer out of prison than inside. “He has faced death threats, has heard screaming at night and the urgent intervention in a adjacent room when a prisoner injured themselves,” he said. Current Status The public attorney Damien Brunet asked that Sarkozy’s petition for freedom be granted. The court will reveal its ruling on Monday afternoon. Incarceration Details The former president has been held in solitary confinement for his own security, in an individual cell of about 9 sq metres, with his own shower and restroom. Security personnel are occupying a neighbouring cell to ensure his safety. Accounts indicated that he had been consuming solely yogurt in prison as he feared any food might have been contaminated. He had been given the opportunity to cook for himself but refused this. Support from the Public Sarkozy’s social media account last week posted a video of piles of letters, cards and packages it claimed had been sent to him, including a collection, a chocolate bar and a book. “No letter will go without a response,” his account announced. “The end of the story has not yet been determined.” Items in Prison Sarkozy brought with him a biography of Jesus as well as the classic novel, Alexandre Dumas’s novel in which an innocent man is sentenced to jail but breaks out to seek retribution. Legal Proceedings Details During Sarkozy’s three-month trial, the public prosecutor had told the court that Sarkozy entered into a “corrupt agreement” of dishonesty with one of the worst rulers of the last 30 years. The accused denied wrongdoing and said he had not been involved in a illegal scheme to seek election funding from Libya. He was found not guilty of three distinct accusations of dishonesty, improper handling of state money and illegal election campaign funding. After the state prosecutor also challenged these not guilty verdicts, Sarkozy will be judged again on all the accusations next year, including criminal conspiracy. Prior Legal Issues Although the allegations of a secret campaign funding pact with the North African government formed the biggest corruption trial Sarkozy had faced, he had already been convicted in two separate cases and stripped of France’s highest distinction, the national recognition. Sarkozy had previously become the first former French head of state forced to wear an electronic tag after being found guilty in a separate case of corruption and influence peddling. In that situation, he was given a one-year jail term but was able to serve it with an electronic tag worn around the ankle. He wore the tag for three months before being allowed limited freedom.