France jails former president Sarkozy for first time in history
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (photo: Getty Images)
Today, October 21, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at the prison where he will serve his sentence. This is the first case in modern French history in which a former head of state has been imprisoned, BFMTV reports.
Today, Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at the Santé detention center in Paris for imprisonment.
"The former president of the Republic has been officially imprisoned in France, for the first time in this country," the statement said.
He will now undergo the administrative formalities required for all new prisoners before entering his cell.
His wife, Carla Bruni, accompanied him to the prison. Before departure, Sarkozy met with his supporters, who had organized a rally outside his home in support.
The Sarkozy verdict
On September 25, the Paris court found Nicolas Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, guilty of conspiracy in a case concerning the financing of his election campaign by the government of Muammar Gaddafi in 2005–2007. He was sentenced to five years in prison, one of which is suspended.
On other charges — embezzlement of public funds, passive corruption, and violation of campaign financing rules — Sarkozy was found not guilty.
The 70-year-old former president denied all accusations throughout the trial and filed an appeal. According to French media, a new hearing in the case is expected in the coming months.
The imposed sentence provides for imprisonment even in the case of an appeal. The Paris Court of Appeal has up to 18 months to schedule the hearing.
