FORMER French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be sensationally freed from jail today – after serving just 20 days of his five-year sentence.
The 70-year-old begged judges to release him from “a nightmare” three weeks in Paris’s high-security slammer La Santé.
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Sarkozy will be freed from jail today after being convicted of criminal conspiracyCredit: AFP
Sarkozy’s wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and son Jean Sarkozy leaving court today ahead of the decisionCredit: AP
Paris’s La Santé prison received the former president on October 21Credit: AFP
Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy for laundering millions from Colonel Gaddafi and using the cash to fund his winning 2007 campaign.
His dramatic release comes after a court in Paris examined his request for release – with prosecutors voicing their support for him.
The appeals court said: “The court declares the application for release admissible and places you under judicial supervision.”
Sarkozy is still appealing his overall sentence after denying all wrongdoing.
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He has been released as he appeals the sentencing – but has not been exonerated of any of his convictions.
The ex-French leader’s lawyer said following the bombshell announcement: “Our job now, for Nicolas Sarkozy and for us, is to prepare for this appeal hearing.”
France’s Public Prosecutor previously told the Paris Appeal Court on Monday that Sarkozy should be “released and placed under judicial supervision”.
The politician is now expected to wear an electronic tag while living back at his £5million home with his third wife, the former supermodel and pop singer, Carla Bruni, 57, and their 14-year-old daughter, Giulia Sarkozy.
The prosecutor emphasised “the extreme seriousness of the offences and the severity of the sentence”, but said the Code of Criminal Procedure allowed for Sarkozy’s early release.
The former president arrived at the notorious Parisian La Santé prison on October 21, and has had a rough ride since.
On his very-first “frightening” night, fellow inmates mocked the newbie and even levelled death threats at him.
Within hours, a video appeared online where a fellow inmate shouts: “We know everything, Sarko… we know everything. Give back the billions of dollars.”
Three prisoners at La Santé were arrested over the threats.
Two police officers were also forced to move into the prison cell next door, 24 hours a day, to protect Sarkozy from those vowing to “avenge Gaddafi”.
Wife Carla Bruni visited her convict hubby within two days of him moving in.
Reports then emerged that the former president was surviving on a bizarre yoghurt-only diet.
He had apparently been refusing to touch any food served to him in his cell over fears it had been tampered with.
Instead, he had been buying food straight from the canteen – where his favourites were said to be tuna and yoghurt.
A source told Le Point: “He doesn’t even know how to boil an egg!
“And, besides, on principle he refuses to do it.”
Sarkozy kisses his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy before leaving for his five-year prison sentenceCredit: Reuters
Nicholas had been contained in a 29-foot cell in La Santé, like this oneCredit: AFP
Sarkozy described himself as a model prisoner, and previously claimed he should be let out for good behaviour alone.
He told the court on Monday: “I scrupulously responded to all summonses. I never imagined I would have to wait 70 years to experience prison.
“This ordeal was imposed upon me – I endured it. It’s hard, it’s very hard. I love my country, my family is in France, I fight for the truth to prevail.”
He had reportedly been cleaning his own cell with a small broom, and had a sports bag tucked away containing a few personal belongings.
Sarkozy also thanked prison staff, saying they “showed exceptional humanity and made this nightmare bearable”.
The conviction came after a three-month trial that ended in April.
Sarkozy’s five-year sentence was the maximum available for criminal conspiracy in France.
The former president’s wife Carla Bruni and daughter Giulia Sarkozy outside their home as he heads to jailCredit: Getty Images
Sarkozy was married twice before his union with Carla BruniCredit: Getty
Judge Nathalie Gavarino said his crimes were “exceptionally serious”.
The guilty verdict came just two days after the death of Lebanese arms dealer Ziad Takieddine – a key witness in the trial and a relative of George Clooney’s wife, Amal.
Sarkozy was meanwhile acquitted of “receiving stolen public funds” and “passive corruption”.
But prosecutors proved he had a “corruption pact” with Gaddafi, who led Libya up until his assassination in 2011.
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Throughout the trial, Sarkozy had blamed “liars and crooks” for the accusations, while denying that the cash was used to fund his election to head of state in 2007.
He had insisted: “You will never find a single cent from Libya in the campaign.”
Inside Sarkozy’s infamous Paris prison with chilling history
By Douglas Simpson
FORMER French president Nicolas Sarkozy will be held in solitary confinement at a Parisian prison renowned for beheadings, escapes and riots.
Sarkozy was jailed for five years after being found guilty of a “criminal conspiracy” plot to launder millions of dollars of cash from ruthless Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
The former politician is set to be seconded to La Santé Prison where he will remain in solitary confinement for the duration of his sentence.
La Santé has stood since 1867 and boasts a grim past; the prison was the site of a number of guillotine beheadings, three high-profile escapes and dozens of violent riots.
It also plays host to a wing termed the “special area” where convicted high-profile figures like Sarkozy are held.
Throughout his time in the notorious prison Sarkozy will be held separately from other inmates and will always be accompanied by a guard for his own safety.
His cell will feature a bed, desk, shower, toilet and hot plate and he can also apply to have a fridge and TV installed in the space which he will only be allowed to leave for exercise.
Sarkozy will join a long list of dozens of infamous criminals held in the looming jail, which sits next to a school in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
He will join the ranks of former inmates including the likes of Manuel Noriega, Carlos the Jackal and Parisian gangster Jacques Mesrine, who all did stints behind the prison bars.
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