🔗 Share this article The former French president Portrays Life in Jail as ‘Gruelling’ and ‘an Ordeal’ The former French president has asserted that his stay in prison has been “gruelling” and an “ordeal” as he appeared via video link at a judicial proceeding regarding his application to serve his sentence at home. Legal Proceeding from Behind Bars The former leader, dressed in a dark blue attire, was visible on screen from prison on Monday, positioned at a desk with his lawyers beside him. He informed the judges: “I want to acknowledge all the prison staff, who are remarkably compassionate, and who have made this nightmare bearable – because it is a horrific experience.” Background of the Case The former president entered La Santé prison in Paris on 21 October, after receiving a five-year jail sentence for illegal collaboration over a plan to obtain funds for his 2007 presidential election campaign from the government of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He has challenged the ruling, but judges ruled that because of the “exceptional gravity” of his guilty verdict, he had to go to prison while the appeals process proceeded. Historical Importance Sarkozy, who served as France’s rightwing president between 2007 and 2012, is the first former head of an EU country to serve time in prison, and the first French postwar leader to be incarcerated. Personal Statement Sarkozy stated to the judges from prison: “I was completely unaware or desire to ask Mr Gaddafi for any kind of financing … I will never confess to something I didn’t do … I could not have foreseen that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal that has been forced upon me. I admit it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.” He said he would not try to communicate with any accused individuals or witnesses in the case. He declared: “I’m French, I am patriotic, my family is in France. This situation has caused them pain a lot.” Defense Lawyers Observations His legal representative Jean-Michel Darrois, positioned beside him in the remote connection facility, stated: “Being in isolation has been very hard for him.” He commented on Sarkozy: “He’s a strong, durable and courageous man and this imprisonment has caused him great suffering.” In court, a different legal representative, Christophe Ingrain, who had seen him daily, said Sarkozy would be more secure out of prison than within. “He has faced death threats, has heard screaming at night and the emergency response in a adjacent room when a prisoner self-harmed,” he stated. Present Situation The public attorney Damien Brunet requested that Sarkozy’s petition for freedom be granted. The court will announce its decision on Monday afternoon. Prison Conditions Sarkozy has been placed in isolation for his own security, in an individual cell of about 97 square feet, with his own shower and toilet. Two bodyguards are occupying a neighbouring cell to protect him. Accounts suggested that he had been eating only yoghurt in prison as he feared any meal might have been contaminated. He had been offered the facilities to cook for himself but refused this. Encouragement from the Public Sarkozy’s social media account last week shared a video of numerous correspondences, postcards and packages it said had been delivered to his attention, including a collection, a sweet treat and a book. “No letter will go unanswered,” his account declared. “The final chapter has not yet been determined.” Personal Belongings Sarkozy took into prison a life story of Christ as well as the classic novel, the famous work in which an innocent man is sentenced to jail but breaks out to seek retribution. Legal Proceedings Details During Sarkozy’s three-month trial, the state attorney had informed the judges that Sarkozy engaged in a “Faustian pact of dishonesty with one of the most unspeakable dictators of the last 30 years. The accused maintained his innocence and said he had not been part of a criminal conspiracy to obtain campaign finances from Libya. He was acquitted of three separate charges of dishonesty, improper handling of state money and unlawful political financing. After the state prosecutor also appealed against these acquittals, Sarkozy will be judged again on all the charges next year, including criminal conspiracy. Previous Convictions Although the allegations of a secret campaign funding pact with the Libyan regime formed the most significant legal case Sarkozy had faced, he had already been convicted in two different proceedings and stripped of France’s top honor, the national recognition. Sarkozy had previously become the first former French head of state forced to wear an monitoring device after being found guilty in a separate case of dishonesty and improper sway. In that case, he was given a 12-month sentence but was able to complete it with an electronic tag attached to his leg. He wore the tag for a quarter year before being allowed limited freedom.