Nicolas Sarkozy to go to prison on 21 October over Libyan campaign financing case
On 25 September, a Paris court found the former French leader guilty of criminal conspiracy involving the use of funds from Libya to finance his 2007 presidential campaign.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been sentenced to five years in prison, will be incarcerated on 21 October in a Paris gaol, according to sources close to the case quoted by AFP on Monday.On Monday, Sarkozy went to the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) to find out the details of where and when he will be jailed.This decision follows his conviction on 25 September for criminal conspiracy in connection with the alleged Libyan financing of his victorious 2007 presidential campaign.A Paris court found that Sarkozy had allowed his close associates to solicit funds from Libyan authorities linked to the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, immediately appealed his conviction.However, as his sentence is "provisionally enforceable", it can not be suspended pending appeal, meaning Sarkozy will not be able to avoid prison.His lawyers will be able to request his release from the first day of detention. The court has a maximum of two months to reach a decision. If it is rejected, Nicolas Sarkozy will have the opportunity to make another request.Political right indignant but public unphasedAt the age of 70, Sarkozy could be incarcerated in a special section of the Parisian Santé prison intended for vulnerable persons, due to his age and notoriety.In the verdict, the judges acquitted the former leader of three other charges, including passive corruption, embezzlement of Libyan public funds, and illegal election campaign financing, stating that there was no evidence to show that the money allegedly transferred from Libya had been used for his 2007 campaign or for his personal enrichment.Sarkozy's imprisonment before the appeal court's decision was strongly criticised by the right and far right.However, according to an Elabe poll conducted at the end of September, 61% of respondents thought the decision was a fair one, while 38% considered it "unfair",Sarkozy has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, portraying himself as the target of a political vendetta orchestrated by individuals linked to Gaddafi's government.He has suggested that the accusations were linked to his support for the overthrow of the Libyan leader in 2011, during the Arab Spring uprisings that led to the fall and death of Gaddafi.