Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to 5 years in prison for “criminal collusion”. Although the defence plans to appeal the verdict of September 29, as reported by the AFP agency on October 13, Sarkozy will be put behind bars in the Paris prison La Sante on October 21. This is the first time the erstwhile president of the European Union is going to prison.
Although Sarkozy was cleared of corruption charges and concealing misdemeanors of public money, he was found guilty of “criminal collusion”, which in France is simply a serious crime, for which he is facing 10 years imprisonment.
The court did not order the immediate execution of the penalty, but indicated that it would be executed whether the appeal was filed or not. Thus, while Sarkozy was not transported to a prison straight from the courtroom, it is known that he will be there on October 21.
Like any French prisoner, the erstwhile president will be able to ask for a change in the way it is carried out erstwhile the punishment begins. Then the court can trade jail time for home arrest, wearing an electronic bracelet, and even a conditional release. Since Sarkozy is 70 years old, he can apply for it now.
Not only the defence of the erstwhile President, but the prosecution besides appealed against the sentence, which means that the appeal court can both extend and shorten the sentence.
Nicolas Sarkozy was president of France from 2007 to 2012.
Source: o2.pl
AF
