On Monday, the Paris court ordered the early release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from custody, pending the outcome of his appeal.

The 70-year-old former conservative president was imprisoned on October 21 after being found guilty in September of criminal conspiracy. According to the verdict, his close aides had attempted to obtain money for his 2007 campaign from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He was acquitted of all other charges, including corruption and illegal campaign financing.

Judge Nathalie Gavarino said the sentence had been enforced immediately due to the “extraordinary seriousness” of the offense. Sarkozy was held at La Santé prison in Paris — a dramatic downfall for the former leader of France, who governed from 2007 to 2012.

However, on Monday, the prosecutor recommended that Sarkozy be released under strict judicial supervision pending appeal, including a ban on contact with other defendants and witnesses, and a prohibition on leaving France. The prosecutor stated that Sarkozy did not pose a flight risk.

The court accepted the recommendation and confirmed that the former president would be released under supervision. Sarkozy did not attend the hearing in person but spoke via video link from prison. He said he would respect all judicial decisions and emphasized that he was fighting for truth and justice.

“I am French, I love my country. I have always complied with every obligation imposed on me,” Sarkozy said, describing prison life as “hard and exhausting,” as it is for any detainee.

Sarkozy continues to face several legal cases after leaving office. Last year, France’s highest court upheld his conviction for corruption and influence peddling, requiring him to wear an electronic tag — the first such case for a former French head of state. Other courts have confirmed his guilt in a 2012 illegal campaign financing case. He is also under investigation for alleged witness tampering.

(reuters, lud)