The former president of France was released under restrictive conditions, according to the decision of the court examining his request. As it became known, Sarkozy, who was convicted of conspiracy, due to the case of financing his 2007 election campaign with money from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya, was released under harsh conditions pending a review of his case at the Court of Appeal.
According to the ruling, the court concluded that there was no “risk of concealment of evidence, pressure or collusion,” thus making “continuing detention unjustified.”
Strict restrictive conditions
However, it will be subject to some strict restrictive conditions. According to the decision, Sarkozy is prohibited from leaving France.
Notably, Sarkozy will also be barred from contacting other defendants in the Libya case, as well as Justice Ministry officials, after he was visited in prison by current Justice Minister Gerald Darmarnen.
Aim to prepare for the appeal
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, responded to the decision, saying that this was only the first step and that “the next step is the trial in the second degree”.
“And our task now, for Nicolas Sarkozy and for us, is to prepare for this hearing,” he said.
His son, Louis, hailed the court’s decision by posting a childhood photo with his father, accompanied by the brief comment: “Long live freedom!”
A little while ago it became known that the motorcade with a police escort that started from the La Santé prison and transported the former president of France outside the prison, arrived at its destination, namely Sarkozy’s apartment in the western suburbs of Paris.
