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Sarkozy's sentencing begins next week, here's the prison where the former French president will stay
2025-10-13 23:13:49 / BOTA
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been ordered to go to a Paris prison next week to serve a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy to receive election campaign funds from the regime of dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, was summoned to meet state prosecutors on Monday. They told him he must report to La Santé prison on October 21 to begin his sentence.
The 70-year-old will be the first post-war French leader and the first from a European Union country to be sentenced to prison. He was previously the first French leader to wear an electronic tracker after being convicted of a separate corruption and influence-peddling case by a judge. He was sentenced to a year in prison at the time, but served the sentence by wearing the tracker for three months before being released on parole.
Sarkozy has appealed the decision and a new trial is expected within six months. But his sentence stipulates that he must remain in prison until the appeal process begins.
Media reports said he hosted 100 people at a party in Paris last week as a farewell before going to prison. Le Figaro reported that he had told the guests he was innocent. As for prison, he said: “I will not ask for favors. When there is something to do, you have to see it through to the end.”
Sarkozy is expected to have a separate cell, with an hour of physical activity a day and three visits a week. He will likely stay in a special unit for vulnerable prisoners that some call the VIP unit.
Once in prison, Sarkozy has the right, like any prisoner, to appeal the court's decision. He will remain there until the judges issue their ruling, which could take about two months.
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