By Atoyebi Nike
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of criminal conspiracy in connection with alleged Libyan funding of his 2007 presidential campaign.
The 70-year-old ex-leader left his Paris home with his wife, Carla Bruni, on Tuesday and was escorted by police to La Santé Prison, where he will be held in solitary confinement. Supporters gathered outside chanting “Free Nicolas!” as he departed.
Sarkozy, who governed from 2007 to 2012, is the first former president of France and of any EU country to serve jail time. He has denounced the verdict as “an injustice” and appealed the ruling but was ordered to report to prison regardless.
Judge Nathalie Gavarino described the offences as “exceptionally serious.” While the court acquitted Sarkozy of corruption and embezzlement, it found he conspired with aides to seek illicit funding from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.
A recent Elabe poll showed six in ten French citizens consider the sentence fair, though Sarkozy remains influential on the right and retains ties with President Emmanuel Macron, who defended meeting him last week.
