Move FM Global News

PARIS, France: Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former French president in modern times to be jailed when he began serving a five-year prison sentence on October 21 at Paris’ La Santé prison.

He was convicted of criminal conspiracy for allegedly using funds from Libya to finance his 2007 presidential campaign, though he continues to insist he is innocent.

Sarkozy, 70, entered La Santé — a historic prison that has housed well-known figures such as Captain Alfred Dreyfus and “Carlos the Jackal.” He is expected to be held in solitary confinement or in a “vulnerable” section for high-profile inmates. The prison, built in 1867, has been renovated in recent years.

“It’s not Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the Republic, that’s coming — it’s a man,” said Pierre Botton, a former inmate who served time in the same section. “He will live the same way everyone does.”

In a rare move, a Paris court ruled that Sarkozy must begin serving his sentence immediately, even before his appeal is heard, because of the “serious harm to public order” caused by his crimes. Sarkozy said he would face prison “with his head held high” and promised to “fight till the end.”

He told Le Figaro that he was bringing three books — including The Count of Monte Cristo and a biography of Jesus Christ — as well as ten family photos. His wife, singer and former model Carla Bruni, has publicly shown support for him on social media, while his son Louis has called for a rally outside the family’s Paris home.

Under the court’s ruling, Sarkozy can request release only after entering prison, and judges will have up to two months to decide. Officials have not disclosed details of his detention, but in the VIP wing, each inmate has a private 9-square-meter (about 97-square-foot) cell with basic amenities like a bed, small refrigerator, and phone for monitored outgoing calls.

Botton, who personally knows Sarkozy, said the former president shouldn’t expect any special treatment behind bars. “Even if you’re a president or a rich man, you have no control,” he said.

Patrick Balkany, another former inmate and longtime friend of Sarkozy, explained what the former leader will face: taking mugshots, receiving a prison ID, going through body searches, and dealing with the harsh reality of confinement. “In there, we’re just numbers, not names,” he told RTL radio.

Botton remembered the shock of his own first time in prison when his wealthy lifestyle suddenly ended. “I went from a 1,200-square-meter (about 13,000-square-foot) mansion to a 9-square-meter cell,” he said.

He once had a staff of 11 people but found himself scrubbing a dirty cell upon arrival. “That’s what we call the shock of incarceration,” he said.

“At 7 p.m., when the doors lock, you’re alone. You hear the silence and realize—it’s over. Everything is finished.”