Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison following a Paris court’s decision on Monday, allowing him to remain free while appealing his September conviction for criminal conspiracy, as reported by CNN affiliate BFMTV.
Sarkozy was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign using funds from Libya in return for diplomatic favors.
Upon his release, Sarkozy took to social media to express his appreciation for those who have “supported” and “defended” him, asserting that the “truth will prevail” as he prepares for his appeal.
He also shared a list of three books he brought with him to prison, which included two volumes of “The Count of Monte Cristo” and a biography of Jesus Christ.
Since leaving office in 2012, Sarkozy had been anticipated to serve his sentence in either solitary confinement or within the “VIP wing” of the La Santé prison complex. This section is typically designated for inmates deemed unsuitable for the general prison population, often due to concerns regarding their safety.
That wing is usually reserved for prisoners who are considered unsuitable to be kept among the prison’s general population, usually out of fears for their safety.
They could be politicians, former police officers, members of far-right organizations or those tied to Islamist terror groups, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported.
Cells in the wing are fitted with a metal bed and mattress, a small desk, a fridge, a cooking hob, a television, a shower, toilet and sink, and a fixed telephone line allowing prisoners to call certain authorised numbers.
Previous inmates include Manuel Noriega, the former dictator of Panama who was held there following his extradition from the United States after the American invasion that deposed him.
