🔗 Share this article The former French president Characterizes Life in Prison as ‘Gruelling’ and ‘an Ordeal’ Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy has asserted that his time behind bars has been “gruelling” and an “ordeal” as he was present via video link at a court hearing regarding his request to serve his sentence at home. Legal Proceeding from Prison The former leader, wearing a navy blue suit, was visible on screen from prison on Monday, seated at a table with his lawyers beside him. He informed the judges: “I want to pay tribute to all the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this nightmare bearable – because it is a nightmare.” Context of the Legal Situation Sarkozy was admitted to the correctional facility in Paris on 21 October, after being handed a half-decade imprisonment for illegal collaboration over a plan to secure financing for his election bid from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He has challenged the ruling, but the court ruled that because of the “serious nature” of his conviction, he had to go to prison while the appeals process proceeded. Unprecedented Significance Sarkozy, who served as France’s rightwing president between 2007 and 2012, is the initial ex-leader of an EU country to be imprisoned in prison, and the first French postwar leader to go behind bars. Emotional Testimony 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 didn’t do … I could not have foreseen that at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s an challenge that has been imposed on me. I confess it’s hard, it’s extremely challenging. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s exhausting.” He stated he would not try to communicate with any accused individuals or testifiers in the case. He said: “I’m French, I love my country, my family is in France. This ordeal has made them suffer a lot.” Defense Lawyers Comments Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois, sitting next to him in the prison video link room, stated: “Being in solitary confinement has been extremely difficult for him.” He said of Sarkozy: “He’s a strong, robust and brave man and this detention has caused him great suffering.” In court, a different legal representative, Christophe Ingrain, who had seen him daily, asserted Sarkozy would be more secure out of prison than inside. “He has faced death threats, has heard screaming at night and the urgent intervention in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed,” he said. Present Situation The public attorney Damien Brunet asked that Sarkozy’s request for release be approved. The court will announce its decision on Monday afternoon. Incarceration Details Sarkozy has been placed in isolation for his own safety, in an private room of about 97 square feet, with his own shower and toilet. Two bodyguards are occupying a neighbouring cell to protect him. Accounts indicated that he had been consuming solely yogurt in prison as he was concerned any food might have been tampered with. He had been given the opportunity to prepare his own meals but refused this. Support from Outside His online presence last week shared a video of piles of letters, postcards and parcels it said had been delivered to his attention, including a collection, a chocolate bar and a book. “No correspondence will go unanswered,” his account announced. “The final chapter has not yet been determined.” Items in Prison Sarkozy took into prison a life story of Christ as well as the classic novel, the famous work in which an innocent man is sentenced to jail but breaks out to seek retribution. Legal Proceedings Details During Sarkozy’s three-month trial, the state attorney had told the court that Sarkozy engaged in a “corrupt agreement” of dishonesty with one of the worst rulers of the last 30 years. Sarkozy maintained his innocence and stated he had not been part of a criminal conspiracy to seek election funding from Libya. He was found not guilty of three distinct accusations of corruption, improper handling of state money and illegal election campaign funding. After the state prosecutor also appealed against these not guilty verdicts, Sarkozy will be re-tried on all the charges next year, including criminal conspiracy. Previous Convictions Although the claims of a clandestine financial agreement with the Libyan regime formed the biggest corruption trial Sarkozy had faced, he had already been convicted in two different proceedings and stripped of France’s top honor, the national recognition. The former president had previously become the initial ex-leader forced to wear an electronic tag after being found guilty in a different matter of dishonesty and improper sway. In that situation, he was given a one-year jail term but was able to complete it with an ankle monitor worn around the ankle. He wore the tag for a quarter year before being allowed limited freedom.