PARIS: Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday was freed from prison, a 20-day experience the former president called a “nightmare”, as a judge ordered his release pending an appeal decision over Libyan funding.
Sarkozy was freed from La Sante prison in Paris shortly before 3 pm (1400 GMT) on Monday, a source familiar with the case told AFP.
The 70-year-old former president, who maintains his innocence, departed in a car with tinted windows, escorted by police motorcyclists.
A lower court in September found the right-wing politician — who was head of state from 2007 to 2012 — guilty of seeking to acquire funding from Moamer Kadhafi’s Libya for the campaign that saw him elected, and sentenced him to five years behind bars.
He entered jail on October 21, becoming the first former head of a European Union state to be incarcerated, and his lawyers swiftly sought his release.
The appeals case means that Sarkozy is now presumed innocent again.
During the examination of Sarkozy’s request in court earlier Monday, prosecutors had called for him to be freed ahead of the appeal trial to take place in March.
Christophe Ingrain, a member of Sarkozy’s defence team, hailed his client’s release as “a step forward”.
During the court hearing earlier Monday, the former leader spoke about his imprisonment via video call from jail.
“It’s hard, very hard, certainly for any prisoner. I would even say it’s gruelling,” he said.
He thanked the prison staff, whom he said “showed exceptional humanity and made this nightmare — because it is a nightmare — bearable.”
Prosecutor Damien Brunet asked that Sarkozy’s request for release be granted.
“The risks of collusion and pressure on witnesses justify the request for release under judicial supervision,” he said.
In the courtroom showing their support were his wife, the singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and two of the former president’s sons.
The lower court in late September ordered Sarkozy to go to jail, even if he appealed, due to the “exceptional gravity” of the conviction.
The court on Monday banned Sarkozy from leaving France.
The former president was also prohibited from contacting former Libyan officials as well as senior French judicial officials including Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin.
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