Sarkozy released from prison and placed on probation

Brussels – Nicolas Sarkozy will be released from the Santé prison in Paris after twenty days of preventive detention. This was decided today (10 November) by the Paris Court of Appeal, which placed the former President of the Republic under judicial supervision at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office. 

Sarkozy will not be able to get in touch with others involved in the investigation and with Gérald Darmanin, Minister of Justice, noting his “ability to activate various state services” as former president. The minister had visited him at home shortly before his imprisonment, prompting much criticism. 

On 25 September, the former President of the Republic was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for criminal conspiracy in the case of Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. 

Sarkozy has the unenviable record of being the first former EU head of state to be imprisoned.