Nicolas Sarkozy Describes Existence in Prison as ‘Gruelling’ and ‘an Ordeal’
The former French president has stated that his stay in prison has been “exhausting” and an “ordeal” as he was present via remote connection at a judicial proceeding regarding his application to serve his sentence at home.
Legal Proceeding from Behind Bars
The former leader, wearing a dark blue attire, was visible on screen from prison on Monday, positioned at a desk with his legal representatives beside him. He told the court: “I want to commend all the correctional officers, who are remarkably compassionate, and who have eased this difficult situation – because it is a nightmare.”
Background of the Legal Situation
The former president entered La Santé prison in Paris on 21 October, after receiving a half-decade imprisonment for illegal collaboration over a scheme to secure financing for his 2007 presidential election campaign from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
He has appealed against the verdict, but judges ruled that because of the “exceptional gravity” of his guilty verdict, he had to go to prison while the appeals process took its course.
Historical Importance
Sarkozy, who was France’s conservative leader between 2007 and 2012, is the first former head of an EU country to be imprisoned in prison, and the initial leader since WWII to go behind bars.
Personal Statement
Sarkozy told the court 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 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal that has been imposed on me. I admit it’s hard, it’s extremely challenging. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”
He stated he would not try to communicate with any defendants or witnesses in the case. He said: “I’m French, I am patriotic, my family is in France. This situation has made them suffer a lot.”
Legal Team Observations
His legal representative Jean-Michel Darrois, sitting next to him in the remote connection facility, said: “Being in isolation has been very hard for him.” He commented on Sarkozy: “He’s a resilient, robust and brave man and this detention has been very painful for him.”
In court, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, Christophe Ingrain, who had visited him every day, asserted Sarkozy would be safer out of prison than within. “He has faced death threats, has heard screaming at night and the urgent intervention in a adjacent room when a prisoner self-harmed,” he stated.
Current Status
The public attorney Damien Brunet asked that Sarkozy’s petition for freedom be approved. The court will reveal its ruling on Monday afternoon.
Incarceration Details
Sarkozy has been placed in isolation for his own safety, in an private room of about 9 sq metres, with his own washing facility and restroom. Security personnel are occupying a neighbouring cell to ensure his safety.
Accounts suggested that he had been consuming solely yogurt in prison as he feared any meal might have been tampered with. He had been offered the facilities to prepare his own meals but refused this.
Encouragement from the Public
Sarkozy’s social media account last week posted a recording of numerous correspondences, postcards and packages it said had been sent to him, including a collection, a sweet treat and a book. “No letter will go without a response,” his account declared. “The final chapter has not yet been determined.”
Personal Belongings
The former leader brought with him a life story of Christ as well as the classic novel, Alexandre Dumas’s novel in which an innocent man is sentenced to jail but escapes to seek retribution.
Legal Proceedings Details
During the lengthy court case, the state attorney had told the court that Sarkozy engaged in a “corrupt agreement” of dishonesty with one of the most unspeakable dictators of the last 30 years.
Sarkozy maintained his innocence and stated he had not been involved in a criminal conspiracy to seek election funding from Libya.
He was acquitted of three distinct accusations of dishonesty, improper handling of state money and unlawful political financing. After the public attorney also challenged these acquittals, Sarkozy will be re-tried on all the accusations next year, including illegal collaboration.
Prior Legal Issues
Although the claims 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 different proceedings and lost France’s top honor, the Légion d’honneur.
The former president had previously become the first former French head of state forced to wear an monitoring device after being found guilty in a separate case of corruption and influence peddling. In that case, he was given a 12-month sentence but was able to complete it with an electronic tag worn around the ankle. He wore the tag for a quarter year before being granted conditional release.
