🔗 Share this article Nicolas Sarkozy Characterizes Existence in Jail as ‘Draining’ and ‘a Nightmare’ Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy has asserted that his period of incarceration has been “exhausting” and a “horrific experience” as he appeared via remote connection at a court hearing regarding his request to serve his sentence at home. Court Appearance from Prison The former leader, wearing a dark blue attire, appeared on camera from jail 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 remarkably compassionate, and who have eased this difficult situation – because it is a horrific experience.” Context of the Case The former president entered La Santé prison in Paris on 21 October, after being handed a half-decade imprisonment for criminal conspiracy over a plan to secure financing for his election bid from the government 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 be incarcerated while the appeals process proceeded. Unprecedented Significance The former leader, who was France’s conservative leader between 2007 and 2012, is the initial ex-leader of an EU country to be imprisoned in prison, and the initial leader since WWII to be incarcerated. Personal Statement Sarkozy told the court from prison: “I was completely unaware or desire to ask Mr Gaddafi for any kind of financing … I will never confess 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 forced upon me. I admit it’s hard, it’s extremely challenging. It leaves a mark on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.” He stated he would not attempt to enter into contact with any accused individuals or testifiers in the case. He said: “I’m French, I love my country, my family is in France. This situation has made them suffer a lot.” Defense Lawyers Comments His legal representative Jean-Michel Darrois, positioned beside him in the remote connection facility, stated: “Being in solitary confinement has been extremely difficult for him.” He said of Sarkozy: “He’s a resilient, durable and courageous man and this detention has caused him great suffering.” In court, a different legal representative, Christophe Ingrain, who had visited him every day, asserted Sarkozy would be safer outside jail than inside. “He has received threats against his life, has listened to shouts at night and the emergency response in a adjacent room when a prisoner self-harmed,” he stated. Present Situation The state prosecutor 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 security, in an individual cell of about 97 square feet, with his own washing facility and toilet. Two bodyguards are stationed nearby to ensure his safety. Reports suggested 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 prepare his own meals but declined the offer. Encouragement from Outside Sarkozy’s social media account last week posted a recording of piles of letters, postcards and packages it said had been sent to him, including a collage, a chocolate bar and a book. “No correspondence will go unanswered,” his account declared. “The final chapter has not yet been determined.” Items in Prison The former leader brought with him a biography of Jesus as well as the classic novel, Alexandre Dumas’s novel in which an wrongly accused individual is sentenced to jail but escapes to seek retribution. Court Case Particulars During Sarkozy’s three-month trial, the state attorney had informed the judges that Sarkozy entered into a “corrupt agreement” of corruption with one of the worst rulers of the last three decades. Sarkozy maintained his innocence and stated he had not been involved in a criminal conspiracy to seek election funding from Libya. He was found not guilty of three separate charges of corruption, 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. Previous Convictions Although the allegations of a secret campaign funding pact with the North African government formed the most significant legal case Sarkozy had encountered, he had already been found guilty in two different proceedings and stripped of 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 convicted in a separate case of dishonesty 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 allowed limited freedom.