A Paris court granted former French President Nicolas Sarkozy early release from jail on Monday, pending an appeal, just weeks after he started a five-year sentence for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya.
The former conservative president, 70, was jailed on October 21 after a court found him guilty in September of criminal conspiracy over efforts by close aides to procure funds for his 2007 presidential bid from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
He was acquitted of all other charges, including corruption and receiving illegal campaign financing.
He is now due to leave La Sante prison in Paris later on Monday afternoon.
PROSECUTOR RECOMMENDED RELEASE WITH STRICT SUPERVISION
Sarkozy's prison sentence had been enforced swiftly because of the "extraordinary seriousness" of the crime, judge Nathalie Gavarino told the court.
He was incarcerated at La Sante prison in Paris last month - a stunning downfall for a man who had led France from 2007 until 2012.
But the public prosecutor on Monday recommended that Sarkozy be freed pending his appeal and put under strict judicial supervision, with a ban on contact with other indicted individuals and witnesses involved in the proceedings. The prosecutor said that Sarkozy did not represent a flight risk.
The court agreed to release him under judicial supervision, which would include a ban on leaving France, BFM TV said.
Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling himself a victim of revenge and hatred. He did not attend the hearing in person but was taking part via video link from prison.
He told the court earlier on Monday that he would respect any demand from the judiciary if he was freed.
"I'm French, sir. I love my country. I’m fighting for the truth to prevail. I will comply with all the obligations imposed on me, as I always have," he said.
Speaking of being in jail, he added: "It’s tough. Really tough — as it must be for any detainee. I’d even say it’s draining."
Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing and has appealed, calling himself a victim of revenge and hatred. He will not attend the hearing but be represented in the appeals court by lawyers.
In French criminal law, those justifications include the need to prevent a continuation of the crime or to ensure that the accused remains available to the justice system.
From Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking night in Houston to England’s frustrating draw in Boston and Algeria’s comeback win in San Francisco, t...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the construction of two new 5,000-tonne warships every year over the next five years, signalling one of th...
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian asset...
A United Nations enquiry has accused Israeli authorities and security forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, saying the action...
Google-owned YouTube has settled a lawsuit brought by a teenage plaintiff who claimed the platform harmed his mental health, avoiding what would have ...
Authorities in France are reporting that about 20 people have died over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas of rivers, lakes and coastal waters as they tried to escape the heatwave.
Attendees at undeclared free parties in France could face on-the-spot fines of €1,500 ($1,713) or up to six months in prison under proposed new legislation currently being reviewed by the French National Assembly.
A chaotic day of World Cup action saw Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland shine in high-scoring wins for France and Norway. Lionel Messi continued his record-breaking run as Argentina secured another commanding victory.
A severe heatwave sweeping across much of Europe has led France to restrict alcohol consumption at public events, while Germany issued widespread heat warnings and Spain closed a football fan zone in Madrid.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Three students have been killed and at least seven injured after two of their peers opened fire in a high school in the Philippines, police said. A spokesperson for the police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, had been arrested and a police pistol confiscated. Bullying is a possible motive.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the construction of two new 5,000-tonne warships every year over the next five years, signalling one of the country’s most ambitious naval expansion plans to date.
Google-owned YouTube has settled a lawsuit brought by a teenage plaintiff who claimed the platform harmed his mental health, avoiding what would have been the second California trial over allegations that social media companies fuel youth addiction.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to allow a Rastafarian inmate to pursue a damages claim against Louisiana prison officials who forcibly shaved his head in alleged violation of his religious beliefs, ruling that federal law does not permit such lawsuits against individual officers.
Russia has accused the United States of failing to follow through on what Moscow describes as “understandings” reached between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump during their Alaska summit last year, in a sign of mounting frustration in the Kremlin.
Bangladesh has called for increased climate financing and faster delivery of support to vulnerable nations, arguing that current global funding commitments fall far short of what developing countries need to tackle the growing impacts of climate change.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment