Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be released from prison after a Paris court ruled Monday he could be freed pending an appeal for his September conviction for criminal conspiracy, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.
He was convicted for his involvement in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors.
Speaking to the court Monday via videolink, he said that his 20 days in prison had been, “very hard.”
He paid tribute to prison staff during his hearing Monday, adding that they had, “an exceptional humanity which made this nightmare bearable.”
According to French magazine Le Point, Sarkozy has refused to eat anything except yogurts during his nearly three-week stint behind bars, reportedly due to fear other prisoners might spit in his food.
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