Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of France, has begun a five-year prison sentence at La Santé prison in central Paris. The 70-year-old was convicted of participating in a criminal organization related to alleged campaign finances from the late Libyan dictator Moamer Gaddafi. Sarkozy has maintained his innocence, posting a statement on social media before his imprisonment, denouncing the judicial scandal and claiming that his conviction was based on a falsified document.

The conviction stems from a long-running investigation into the financing of Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign, which was alleged to have received illegal funds from the Gaddafi regime. Although the Paris criminal court found no evidence of illegal campaign funds, it concluded that Sarkozy had attempted to obtain funds from the Libyan leader. The court ordered the immediate enforcement of the sentence, despite Sarkozy’s appeal.

As a prisoner, Sarkozy will be housed in a special unit for inmates requiring extra protection, but he will not receive preferential treatment. He will undergo the same procedures as all new inmates, including a strip search, and will be provided with standard prisoner amenities such as a shower, refrigerator, and television. Due to his age, Sarkozy may be eligible for conditional release immediately after starting his sentence, under a French provision that allows inmates aged 70 and older to serve their sentence outside prison under certain conditions.

Before his imprisonment, Sarkozy met with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has announced plans to visit him in prison. The former President is expected to write a book about his time in prison, according to reports. The case has significant implications for French politics and the ongoing investigation into corruption and campaign finance irregularities. As the situation develops, further details are likely to emerge about Sarkozy’s imprisonment and the ongoing appeal process.