Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison under judicial supervision while awaiting his appeal against a criminal conspiracy conviction.
A Paris appeals court has approved the early release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison, placing him under judicial supervision while his appeal against a criminal conspiracy conviction is pending, according to a report from EURONEWS.
The ruling comes less than three weeks after Sarkozy, 70, began serving a five-year sentence at La Santé prison for allegedly financing his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya.
Sarkozy, who denies wrongdoing, told the court via video link, “I had never imagined I would experience prison at 70. This ordeal was imposed on me and I lived through it. It’s hard, very hard.”
His lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, said imprisonment had “caused him great suffering,” while another attorney, Christophe Ingrain, argued Sarkozy would be “safer out of prison than inside.”
Under French law, release is the general rule pending appeal. Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and two sons attended Monday’s hearing.
His appeal trial is expected in spring, while he also faces separate proceedings over campaign financing and alleged witness tampering.