French Prosecutors Call for Release of Ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy
Sarkozy, who began serving a five-year sentence on October 21, remains behind bars while the Paris Court of Appeal reviews his request for early release. The prosecution is urging the court to authorize his freedom under strict conditions, including a ban on any contact with other defendants or witnesses linked to the Libyan financing case, according to media.
"The extreme seriousness of the facts and the potential sentence should not be taken into account. Only the criteria of Article 144 are relevant," the advocate general stated.
Under Article 144 of French criminal procedure, pre-trial detention can only be justified to preserve evidence, prevent collusion among suspects, or safeguard those under investigation.
Appearing at the hearing via video conference, Sarkozy firmly denied wrongdoing, declaring he never had the "crazy idea" of requesting funds from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and asserting: "I will never admit to something I did not do."
The court is expected to issue its decision later in the day.
Sarkozy was convicted earlier this year of criminal conspiracy over allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign was partly financed by Libyan money. While judges found him guilty of conspiracy, they acquitted him of passive corruption and other illicit funding charges.
Following his incarceration, Sarkozy’s legal team immediately filed a petition seeking his release.
The 69-year-old conservative leader, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, has consistently denied all accusations.
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