Paris Court Orders Sarkozy's Conditional Release Under Strict Supervision

Overview

• The Court of Appeal authorized Nicolas Sarkozy to leave La Santé prison on conditional liberty subject to judicial oversight.
• Terms include a ban on leaving France and prohibitions on contacting specified figures, including Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.
• Sarkozy was convicted in September of criminal association tied to alleged Libyan funding for his 2007 campaign, with immediate enforcement leading to his Oct. 21 incarceration.
• He appeared at the hearing by videoconference, described prison as very hard, and his wife Carla Bruni and two of his children attended in person.
• An appeal hearing is expected in March, while separate proceedings continue, including a high-court decision due later in November on the 2012 campaign-finance case.