Photo: BBC
On Monday, November 10, a French court approved former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s request to be released from prison while his appeal is under review, reports Le Figaro.
The court ruled that "continuing pretrial detention is not justified." Sarkozy will remain under judicial supervision, which includes, among other restrictions, a ban on leaving France. He is expected to leave La Santé prison on Monday.
The court also prohibited the former president from contacting Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who visited him in prison on October 29. Sarkozy’s lawyer described the decision as a “normal application of the criminal procedure code,” noting that the next step will be the appeals process.
Charges against Sarkozy
The 70-year-old former president was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to obtain funds for his 2007 presidential campaign from the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi through his close aides. Other charges, including corruption and illegal campaign financing, were dismissed.
Background
Sarkozy, known for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, received notification of his imprisonment conditions following the verdict in the so-called “Libyan case.” On September 25, a Paris court sentenced him to five years in prison, part of which could be served under special conditions rather than in a regular prison. He began serving his sentence at La Santé prison on October 21.
