Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, has been released from La Santé prison after serving just three weeks of a five-year sentence for his involvement in a criminal conspiracy linked to funding his 2007 presidential campaign with money from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Under the terms of his release, Sarkozy will be under close judicial monitoring and is not allowed to leave France while awaiting an appeal trial scheduled for next year.
The 70-year-old ex-president was sentenced on October 21 for conspiring to secure illicit campaign funds. His legal team acted quickly, submitting a request for early release, which a Paris court approved on Monday.
Following the court’s decision, Sarkozy’s vehicle was seen departing the prison shortly before 3 p.m. local time, and he later returned to his residence in western Paris.
In a post on social media, Sarkozy emphasized, “My energy is focused solely on the single goal of proving my innocence. The truth will prevail... The end of the story is yet to be written.”
Christophe Ingrain, one of Sarkozy’s lawyers, described the release as “a step forward” and said the focus now is on preparing for the appeal trial expected in March.
One of the conditions of Sarkozy’s release is that he must not contact witnesses involved in the so-called “Libyan dossier” or any staff from the justice ministry.
While in prison, Sarkozy was held in solitary confinement, a period he described in court as “gruelling” and “a nightmare.” He maintained, “I never had the mad idea of asking Gaddafi for money. I will never admit to something I haven’t done.” He also praised prison staff for their kindness, saying they made his time in confinement “bearable.”
His wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, along with two of his sons, Jean and Pierre, were present in court to support him.
Sarkozy is the first French ex-leader to serve jail time since World War II, when collaborationist Philippe Pétain was imprisoned for treason in 1945.
During his time in prison, Sarkozy stayed in a small cell in the isolation wing, equipped with a toilet, shower, desk, electric hob, a small TV for which he paid €14 per month, and a mini-fridge.
He was allowed one hour of exercise daily in a private yard and had limited family visits and phone contact. Two bodyguards were stationed nearby due to threats related to his status, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
Sarkozy was visited in prison by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, a move that prompted 30 French lawyers to file a complaint, citing a potential conflict of interest because of Darmanin’s previous association with the former president.
Since leaving office in 2012, Sarkozy has faced multiple criminal investigations and previously wore an electronic tag after being convicted in December for attempting to bribe a magistrate in a separate corruption case.
