According to reports in the national media, during the hearing at the Paris Court of Appeal, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the release of Sarkozy, who entered La Sante Prison on October 21, under judicial control conditions.
Participating in the hearing via video conference, Sarkozy once again denied the charges against him in the Libya case in which he was convicted, and noted that the detention conditions are difficult.
Sarkozy said, “I never imagined I would wait 70 years to get to know a prison. This hardship was imposed on me, I endured it. (Prison conditions) Tough, very tough”.
Expressing his love for his country, Sarkozy said, “I am fighting for the truth to come out”.
At the prosecutor’s request, the court decided to release Sarkozy under judicial control conditions.
The court also prohibited Sarkozy from contacting Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin as part of the judicial control conditions.
Sarkozy is expected to be released from prison today.
WHAT HAPPENED?
It was claimed that Sarkozy, who was president of France from 2007 to 2012, received illegal financial support from then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to run his 2007 presidential campaign. Following these allegations, an investigation was opened in 2013, and a judicial process known in the public as “Libya case” began.
In the Libya case heard at the Paris Criminal Court on September 25, Sarkozy was acquitted of “passive corruption, concealing embezzlement of public funds, and illegal campaign financing”, but was sentenced to 5 years in prison for “establishing a criminal organization”.
Although Sarkozy appealed the verdict, due to the nature of the court decision, his imprisonment was confirmed before the appeal process was completed.
On October 21, the same day Sarkozy, the former President of France, was taken into custody, an application was made for his release.
