🔗 Share this article The former French president Characterizes Life in Prison as ‘Gruelling’ and ‘a Horrific Experience’ Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy has stated that his time behind bars has been “gruelling” and a “horrific experience” as he was present via video link at a court hearing regarding his petition to complete his jail term at home. Legal Proceeding from Behind Bars Sarkozy, dressed in a navy blue suit, appeared on camera from prison on Monday, positioned at a desk with his legal representatives beside him. He informed the judges: “I want to commend all the correctional officers, who are remarkably compassionate, and who have eased this difficult situation – because it is a nightmare.” Context of the Case The former president was admitted to La Santé prison in Paris on 21 October, after being handed a half-decade imprisonment for illegal collaboration over a scheme to secure financing for his election bid from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He has appealed against the ruling, but the court ruled that because of the “serious nature” of his conviction, he had to be incarcerated while the legal challenge proceeded. Historical Significance Sarkozy, who served as France’s conservative leader between 2007 and 2012, is the first former head of an EU country to be imprisoned in prison, and the first French postwar leader to go behind bars. Personal Statement Sarkozy stated to the judges from prison: “I was completely unaware or intention 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 ordeal that has been imposed on me. I admit it’s hard, it’s very hard. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.” 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.” Legal Team Observations Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois, positioned beside him in the remote connection facility, stated: “Being in isolation has been extremely difficult for him.” He commented on Sarkozy: “He’s a strong, durable and brave man and this detention has been very painful for him.” In court, a different legal representative, Christophe Ingrain, who had seen him daily, said Sarkozy would be safer outside jail than within. “He has received threats against his life, has heard screaming at night and the emergency response in a adjacent room when a prisoner injured themselves,” he said. Present Situation The public attorney Damien Brunet asked that Sarkozy’s request for release be granted. The court will announce its decision on Monday afternoon. Prison Conditions Sarkozy has been held in solitary confinement for his own safety, in an individual cell of about 97 square feet, with his own shower and toilet. Two bodyguards are stationed nearby to ensure his safety. Accounts indicated that he had been consuming solely yogurt in prison as he feared any meal might have been contaminated. He had been offered the facilities to prepare his own meals but refused this. Encouragement from the Public His online presence last week posted a recording of numerous correspondences, postcards and parcels it said had been delivered to his attention, including a collection, a sweet treat and a book. “No letter will go unanswered,” his account announced. “The final chapter has not yet been written.” Items in Prison The former leader took into prison a biography of Jesus as well as the classic novel, Alexandre Dumas’s novel in which an wrongly accused individual is sentenced to jail but escapes to take revenge. Court Case Details During the lengthy court case, the state attorney had informed the judges that Sarkozy entered into a “corrupt agreement” of dishonesty with one of the worst rulers of the last 30 years. The accused maintained his innocence and said he had not been part of a illegal scheme to obtain campaign finances from Libya. He was found not guilty of three separate charges of dishonesty, misuse of Libyan public funds and unlawful political financing. After the public attorney also appealed against these not guilty verdicts, Sarkozy will be re-tried on all the accusations next year, including criminal conspiracy. Previous Convictions Although the allegations of a clandestine financial agreement with the North African government formed the biggest corruption trial Sarkozy had faced, he had already been found guilty in two separate cases and lost France’s top honor, the national recognition. The former president had previously become the first former French head of state forced to wear an electronic tag after being found guilty in a different matter of corruption and influence peddling. In that situation, he was given a one-year jail term but was able to serve it with an electronic tag worn around the ankle. He had the device for a quarter year before being granted conditional release.