FORMER French President Nicolas Sarkozy could walk free today after serving just 20 days of his five-year sentence.
The 70-year-old has begged judges to release him from “a nightmare” three weeks in La Santé, the high-security jail in Paris.
Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy for laundering millions from Colonel Gaddafi and using the cash to fund his winning 2007 campaign.
A court in Paris is today examining his request for release – with prosecutors voicing their support – and a decision is expected this afternoon.
France’s Public Prosecutor – not named by convention – told the Paris Appeal Court on Monday that Sarkozy should be “released and placed under judicial supervision”.
This would mean the politician wearing an electronic tag, while living back at his £5million home with his third wife, the former supermodel and pop singer, Carla Bruni, 57, and their 14-year-old daughter, Giulia Sarkozy.
The prosecutor emphasised “the extreme seriousness of the offences and the severity of the sentence”, but said the Code of Criminal Procedure allowed for Sarkozy’s early release.
Sarkozy is still appealing his overall sentence after denying all wrongdoing, so could be let out and then returned to his cell at a later date if his conviction is confirmed.
The former president arrived at the notorious Parisian La Santé prison on October 21, and has had a rough ride since.
On his very-first “frightening” night, fellow inmates mocked the newbie and even levelled death threats at him.
Within hours, a video appeared online where a fellow inmate shouts: “We know everything, Sarko… we know everything. Give back the billions of dollars.”
Three prisoners at La Santé were arrested over the threats.
Two police officers were also forced to move into the prison cell next door, 24 hours a day, to protect Sarkozy from those vowing to “avenge Gaddafi”.
Wife Carla Bruni visited her convict hubby within two days of him moving in.
Reports then emerged that the former president was surviving on a bizarre yoghurt-only diet.
He has apparently been refusing to touch any food served to him in his cell over fears it had been tampered with.
Instead, he had been buying food straight from the canteen – where his favourites are said to be tuna and yoghurt.
A source told Le Point: “He doesn’t even know how to boil an egg!
“And, besides, on principle he refuses to do it.”
Sarkozy described himself as a model prisoner, and claimed he should be let out for good behaviour alone.
He told the court today: “I scrupulously responded to all summonses. I never imagined I would have to wait 70 years to experience prison.
“This ordeal was imposed upon me – I endured it. It’s hard, it’s very hard. I love my country, my family is in France, I fight for the truth to prevail.”
He has reportedly been cleaning his own cell with a small broom, and has a sports bag tucked away containing a few personal belongings.
Sarkozy also thanked prison staff, saying they “showed exceptional humanity and made this nightmare bearable”.
The conviction came after a three-month trial that ended in April.
Sarkozy’s five-year sentence was the maximum available for criminal conspiracy in France.
Judge Nathalie Gavarino said his crimes were “exceptionally serious”.
The guilty verdict came just two days after the death of Lebanese arms dealer Ziad Takieddine – a key witness in the trial and a relative of George Clooney’s wife, Amal.
Sarkozy was meanwhile acquitted of “receiving stolen public funds” and “passive corruption”.
But prosecutors proved he had a “corruption pact” with Gaddafi, who led Libya up until his assassination in 2011.
Throughout the trial, Sarkozy had blamed “liars and crooks” for the accusations, while denying that the cash was used to fund his election to head of state in 2007.
He had insisted: “You will never find a single cent from Libya in the campaign.”
Inside Sarkozy’s infamous Paris prison with chilling history
FORMER French president Nicolas Sarkozy will be held in solitary confinement at a Parisian prison renowned for beheadings, escapes and riots.
Sarkozy was jailed for five years after being found guilty of a “criminal conspiracy” plot to launder millions of dollars of cash from ruthless Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
The former politician is set to be seconded to La Santé Prison where he will remain in solitary confinement for the duration of his sentence.
La Santé has stood since 1867 and boasts a grim past; the prison was the site of a number of guillotine beheadings, three high-profile escapes and dozens of violent riots.
It also plays host to a wing termed the “special area” where convicted high-profile figures like Sarkozy are held.
Throughout his time in the notorious prison Sarkozy will be held separately from other inmates and will always be accompanied by a guard for his own safety.
His cell will feature a bed, desk, shower, toilet and hot plate and he can also apply to have a fridge and TV installed in the space which he will only be allowed to leave for exercise.
Sarkozy will join a long list of dozens of infamous criminals held in the looming jail, which sits next to a school in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
He will join the ranks of former inmates including the likes of Manuel Noriega, Carlos the Jackal and Parisian gangster Jacques Mesrine, who all did stints behind the prison bars.
