Khaberni - The Court of Appeals in Paris today, Monday, ordered the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy after 20 days of imprisonment following his conviction in the Libyan financing case of his 2007 presidential campaign, under judicial supervision.
During the session reviewing the release request, the public prosecutor had also recommended conditional release under judicial supervision for Sarkozy, who attended the session via video technology from La Santé Prison in Paris.
Sarkozy said, "Prison is very difficult, indeed it's tough," adding, "I am fighting for the sovereignty of the truth," while also praising the "humanity" of the prison staff who made "this nightmare bearable."
The appearance of Sarkozy (70 years old) on the screen from inside the prison is unprecedented in the history of the French Republic, as no former president has ever been imprisoned before.
The public prosecutor, Damien Bruni, in front of the court, requested the approval for the release of Sarkozy under judicial supervision, with a prohibition on contacting witnesses or other defendants, pointing out that "the representational guarantees he offers are unequivocal due to his known family connections and interests in the country."
The Paris Criminal Court had convicted Sarkozy on September 25th for a five-year prison sentence on charges of conspiring to request unlawful financing from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his electoral campaign, which the former president denies, asserting that he is a victim of "hatred and vengeance."
The detention of Sarkozy has sparked widespread controversy in France, described by observers as an unprecedented step in the history of the European Union, while his lawyers confirmed that the detention "caused him significant suffering despite his strength and resilience."
