Overview
- The Paris Court of Appeal ordered Nicolas Sarkozy released from La Santé prison under judicial supervision less than three weeks into a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy tied to Libya funding allegations.
- Restrictions include a ban on leaving France and prohibitions on contacting co-defendants, witnesses, former Libyan officials and senior French judicial figures, with a specific bar on any contact with Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.
- Prosecutors recommended release, and the court found detention unnecessary, opting for supervision to address risks of collusion, pressure on witnesses and evidence protection.
- An appeals trial is expected in the spring, with several reports pointing to March for the hearing schedule.
- Sarkozy denies wrongdoing; separate proceedings continue, including a Nov. 26 Court of Cassation ruling on his 2012 financing case and an ongoing witness-tampering probe linked to the Libya investigation.