Nicolas Sarkozy Characterizes Existence in Prison as ‘Gruelling’ and ‘a Horrific Experience’
Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy has stated that his period of incarceration has been “gruelling” and a “nightmare” as he appeared via video link at a judicial proceeding regarding his request to complete his jail term at home.
Legal Proceeding from Prison
The former leader, wearing a navy blue suit, was visible on screen from jail on Monday, positioned at a desk with his legal representatives beside him. He informed the judges: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this nightmare bearable – because it is a nightmare.”
Context of the Case
Sarkozy was admitted to La Santé prison in Paris on 21 October, after receiving a five-year jail sentence for illegal collaboration over a plan to obtain funds for his election bid from the government of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
He has challenged the ruling, but judges ruled that because of the “serious nature” of his guilty verdict, he had to be incarcerated while the legal challenge proceeded.
Unprecedented Importance
The former leader, who served as France’s rightwing president between 2007 and 2012, is the initial ex-leader of an EU country to serve time in prison, and the first French postwar leader to be incarcerated.
Personal Statement
Sarkozy stated to the judges from prison: “I was completely unaware or desire to ask Mr Gaddafi for any kind of financing … I will not admit to something I am innocent of … I could not have foreseen that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s an challenge that has been imposed on me. I admit it’s difficult, it’s extremely challenging. It leaves a mark on any prisoner because it’s exhausting.”
He said he would not try to communicate with any defendants or witnesses in the case. He declared: “I’m French, I love my country, my family is in France. This situation has made them suffer a lot.”
Defense Lawyers Comments
His legal representative Jean-Michel Darrois, sitting next to him in the remote connection facility, said: “Being in solitary confinement has been extremely difficult for him.” He said of Sarkozy: “He’s a strong, durable and brave man and this imprisonment has caused him great suffering.”
In court, a different legal representative, Christophe Ingrain, who had seen him daily, asserted Sarkozy would be more secure outside jail than inside. “He has faced death threats, has listened to shouts at night and the urgent intervention in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed,” he said.
Present Situation
The state prosecutor Damien Brunet requested that Sarkozy’s petition for freedom be granted. The court will announce its decision on Monday afternoon.
Prison Conditions
Sarkozy has been placed in isolation for his own safety, in an individual cell of about 9 sq metres, with his own shower and toilet. Security personnel are stationed nearby to protect him.
Reports suggested that he had been consuming solely yogurt in prison as he was concerned any meal might have been tampered with. He had been offered the facilities to cook for himself but refused this.
Support from Outside
His online presence last week shared a video of piles of letters, postcards and packages it claimed had been delivered to his attention, including a collection, a chocolate bar and a volume. “No letter will go without a response,” his account declared. “The final chapter has not yet been determined.”
Personal Belongings
Sarkozy took into prison a biography of Jesus as well as The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas’s novel in which an innocent man is imprisoned but escapes to take revenge.
Legal Proceedings Particulars
During Sarkozy’s three-month trial, the state attorney had told the court that Sarkozy engaged in a “Faustian pact of dishonesty with one of the most unspeakable dictators of the last 30 years.
The accused denied wrongdoing and said he had not been involved in a illegal scheme to obtain campaign finances from Libya.
He was found not guilty of three distinct accusations of corruption, improper handling of state money and unlawful political financing. After the public attorney also challenged these acquittals, Sarkozy will be judged again on all the accusations next year, including illegal collaboration.
Previous Convictions
Although the allegations of a clandestine financial agreement with the Libyan regime formed the biggest corruption trial Sarkozy had encountered, he had already been convicted in two different proceedings and lost France’s highest distinction, the Légion d’honneur.
The former president had previously become the initial ex-leader forced to wear an monitoring device after being convicted in a different matter of corruption and improper sway. In that case, he was given a 12-month sentence but was able to serve it with an electronic tag worn around the ankle. He wore the tag for three months before being allowed limited freedom.
