President Nicolas Sarkozy, 70, reported at a La Santé prison in Paris on Tuesday morning to begin serving a 5-year sentence

Charged with criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign, former French president was convicted of criminal conspiracy, over a plan for late Libyan dictator Muammer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 electoral campaign

‘Sarkozy, as a presidential candidate and interior minister, used his position “to prepare corruption at the highest level” from 2005 to 2007, to finance his presidential campaign with funds from Libya, under Muammar Gadhafi’ – Sept. 25, court ruling

The court ruled that Sarkozy would start to serve prison time without waiting for his appeal to be heard, due to “the seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offense”

Under the ruling, Sarkozy was able to file a request for release to the appeals court only once behind bars and judges have up to two months to process appeal for release

On his way to prison on Tuesday, Sarkozy released a statement on social media declaring that “an innocent man” was being locked up.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at a prison in Paris on Tuesday to begin serving a 5-year sentence for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. Sarkozy who stopped being French President in 2012, has since faced several trials for corruption in office

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at a prison in Paris on Tuesday to begin serving a 5-year sentence for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya, setting a record as the first ex-leader of modern France to be imprisoned.
Sarkozy, 70, was greeted by hundreds of supporters when he walked out of his Paris home hand-in-hand with his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. He then embraced the former first lady before getting into a police car.
On his way to prison, Sarkozy released a statement on social media declaring that “an innocent man” was being locked up.

Nicolas Sarkozy leaves his house in, in Paris, France, with former First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy on the day of his incarceration at the La Santé prison to begin his five-year prison sentence, in solitary confinement, for criminal conspiracy over attempts to raise campaign funds from Libya

Minutes later, the vehicle passed through the gates of the notorious La Santé prison, where Sarkozy will now serve his sentence in solitary confinement.
Sarkozy was convicted in September 25, for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya.
He contests both the conviction and a judge’s unusual decision to incarcerate him pending appeal. His lawyers said Tuesday that they filed an immediate request for his release.
“It’s an ominous day for him, for France, and for our institutions, because this incarceration is a disgrace,” Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois told the media soon after his client’s incarceration.
The former president he will be kept away from all other prisoners for security reasons.

Sarkozy hugs wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy as he leaves his residence to present himself to La Santé Prison in Paris, for incarceration after being convicted of criminal conspiracy over a plan for late Libyan dictator Muammer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 electoral campaign

Sarkozy’s journey from the presidential Elysée Palace to La Santé prison has captivated France.
After leaving their home, Sarkozy and his wife walked slowly to join family members, including his children and grandchildren, outside his home.
Hundreds of supporters applauded and chanted “Nicolas, Nicolas” and sang the French anthem. Two French flags were hung on a nearby fence, with the words “Courage Nicolas, return soon” and “true France with Nicolas.”
Sarkozy has been retired from active politics for years but remains very influential, especially in conservative circles last week in a newspaper interview said: “I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high, including in front of the doors of La Santé.
“I’ll fight till the end.”

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy waves to supporters on Tuesday, as police transported him to La Santé Prison at the start of a 5-year sentence

The Paris court ruled last month that Sarkozy would start to serve prison time without waiting for his appeal to be heard, due to “the seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offense.”
In its Sept. 25 ruling, the court said Sarkozy, as a presidential candidate and interior minister, used his position “to prepare corruption at the highest level” from 2005 to 2007, to finance his presidential campaign with funds from Libya, then led by longtime ruler, the late Muammar Gadhafi.
Under the court’s ruling, Sarkozy was able to file a request for release to the appeals court only once behind bars. The judges have up to two months to process that appeal.