23.10.2025 10:23
The former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was sentenced to five years in prison for illegally financing his 2007 election campaign from the Muammar Gaddafi regime, had a particularly difficult first night in prison. His fellow inmates, accusing Sarkozy of killing Gaddafi, kept him awake all night by hurling insults at him.
Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison for establishing a criminal organization in the "Libya case" in France, has entered prison.
THEY DID NOT LET HIM SLEEP UNTIL MORNING IN PRISON
Sarkozy's first night in prison, held in a single-person, 11 square meter cell with a window, was quite challenging. The neighboring inmates shouted at Sarkozy all night to keep him awake, saying, "Hey Sarko, you... kid, wake up! You killed Gaddafi."
A FIRST IN FRENCH HISTORY
Sarkozy, the first former president to go to prison in France since 1958, stated in a message on social media, "Today, a former president is not being imprisoned, but an innocent person is." He expressed that he would continue to react to this "judicial scandal," saying, "I have no doubt. The truth will prevail."
"THE MOST SECURE CELL IN FRANCE"
According to local media reports, La Sante Prison Director Sebastien Cauwel confirmed that Sarkozy would remain isolated from other inmates in his cell, stating that it is the most secure cell in France. Cauwel noted that Sarkozy would have the right to go for a walk twice a day and would have access to a room where he could engage in activities alone, indicating that the former President of France would remain alone throughout his detention period.
HIS LAWYER TOOK ACTION
Sarkozy's lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, stated that he would quickly file a request for his client's release, expressing that even a single night spent in prison by Sarkozy is unnecessary.
WHAT HAPPENED?
It was alleged that Sarkozy, who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012, received illegal financial support from then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to run his presidential election campaign in 2007. Following these allegations, an investigation was launched in 2013, and the judicial process, known to the public as the "Libya case," began.
The Paris Criminal Court delivered its verdict on September 25 in the Libya case, where Sarkozy was tried for "concealing the embezzlement of public funds, passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and establishing a criminal organization for the purpose of committing a crime."
The court ruled that Sarkozy did not commit the crimes of passive corruption, concealing the embezzlement of public funds, and illegal campaign financing, but sentenced the former President to 5 years in prison for establishing a criminal organization. Although Sarkozy appealed the decision, it was confirmed that he would enter prison before the appeal process concluded due to the nature of the court's ruling.