A Paris court is expected to rule this week on whether to release former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison, less than three weeks after he began serving a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy and illegal campaign financing.
DAILY POST reports that Sarkozy, 70, was convicted on September 25 for his role in a scheme to fund his 2007 presidential campaign with money allegedly provided by the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
He was sent to La Santé Prison in Paris on October 21, becoming the first former French president in modern history to be imprisoned.
The former leader has maintained his innocence, claiming he is the victim of a political plot.
His legal team immediately filed a request for early release after his detention, arguing that his imprisonment violates legal principles since pre-appeal detention in France is meant to be exceptional.
Judges will decide whether Sarkozy poses a flight risk, could influence witnesses, or obstruct justice as his appeal progresses.
If the court rules in his favor, he could be released within hours under judicial supervision.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, has consistently denied any connection to the alleged Libyan funds, describing the accusations as “baseless” and politically motivated.
In addition to this case, Sarkozy faces multiple ongoing legal battles. France’s highest court is due to issue a ruling on November 26 regarding the illegal financing of his 2012 re-election campaign, while another investigation continues into alleged witness tampering related to the Libya affair.
