A Paris appeals court on Sunday approved a request for the early release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been imprisoned since Oct. 21 in connection with the “Libyan financing” case, French network BFM reported.
Sarkozy will be released from La Santé prison in Paris on Monday and placed under judicial supervision, according to the court’s decision.
The 70-year-old became the first former French president in modern history to be incarcerated after he was sentenced to five years in prison on Sept. 25.
Sarkozy, who governed France from 2007 to 2012, has denied any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a “conspiracy” linked to the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
During a court appearance on Monday, Sarkozy said: “I want you to be convinced of one thing, it never crossed my mind to ask Mr. Gaddafi for any funding. I will never admit to something I did not do.”
Speaking about his detention, he added: “I have responded meticulously to every summons from the judiciary, but I never imagined that at the age of 70 I would be put in prison. This ordeal has been imposed on me, it is difficult, very difficult.”
Sarkozy also paid tribute to the prison staff, whom he said were “of great humanity, which made this nightmare bearable.”
He still faces other legal proceedings, including a decision expected on Nov. 26 from France’s highest court regarding the illegal financing of his 2012 re-election campaign, as well as an ongoing investigation into allegations of tampering with or influencing witnesses.
