Nicolas Sarkozy to Pen Jail Diary Documenting Three Weeks In Custody
Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a personal account in the coming weeks called Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling his time endured in custody.
This news came less than two weeks after Sarkozy left prison as he contests his conviction related to criminal conspiracy regarding a scheme to obtain election campaign funds from the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.
Life Behind Bars: Personal Reflections
“Inside jail there is nothing to see, with little to occupy time,” he writes in a preview, implying the book centers around his reflections during solitary confinement rather than a broader observation of the overcrowded and struggling correctional facilities in the country.
“Quiet is absent, which doesn’t exist at the prison, where there is endless commotion,” he adds. “The noise unfortunately never stops. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world is fortified in prison.”
Court Appearance: Recounting the Hardship
During his plea for freedom, Sarkozy had appeared remotely from inside the facility, describing his time inside as exhausting. He had told the court: “I must acknowledge the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this difficult experience manageable – because it is a nightmare.”
“It never crossed my mind that in my seventies, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a hardship that has been imposed on me. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It leaves a mark on any prisoner as it’s exhausting.”
Unprecedented Situation
The former president, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, was the first ex-leader in the European Union and the first leader since WWII from France to serve time in prison.
Before entering jail he had said he would use his time to write a book.
Books in Prison
It remains unclear whether he had time to go through the volumes he brought with him: a two-volume biography of Jesus plus the novel by Dumas the famous story, where an innocent man is sentenced to jail later flees to exact retribution.
Life in Confinement
Sarkozy remained in isolation due to safety concerns in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at La Santé prison in the city. Guards were stationed in a neighbouring cell.
Sources mentioned that he consumed solely dairy snacks during his stay due to concerns prison cuisine might have been spat on. Although he had access for self-catering but refused this, as per accounts. Not known is whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.
Defense Viewpoint
His attorney, Christophe Ingrain every day throughout the jail term, informed the court he would be safer released rather than in custody. “There were death threats, heard shouts after dark and emergency responses in an adjacent room when a prisoner self-harmed.”
Legal Proceedings
His incarceration began on 21 October following a French court imposed five years in prison on conspiracy charges over a scheme to secure political donations during his election campaign.
He denies wrongdoing challenging the decision, and another court case planned for the coming spring.