Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been in the Paris prison of Sante since yesterday, where he began serving a five-year sentence, is accompanied by two security guards due to his status and the threats he has received, the French Interior Minister said today.
The former head of state has security protection related to his status and the threats that exist regarding him, and that protection has been maintained in prison, Loran Nunez told the news channel Cnews and radio Europe 1.
"It is a decision intended to ensure his safety... of course in addition to the security provided by the prison administration," said Minister Nunez.
Two security guards were placed in a cell next to Nicolas Sarkozy's prison cell.
He said the measures would remain in place "as long as they deem necessary."
Sarkozy (70) began serving a five-year prison sentence in La Sante prison in Paris yesterday, after being convicted of criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign.
He is the first former leader of modern France to go to prison.
Sarkozy has denied these charges from the beginning, and he also disputes the judge's unusual decision to send him to prison while the appeals process is ongoing.
Sarkozy was found guilty on September 25 of allowing two aides to prepare a plan to finance his 2007 presidential campaign from then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The judges caused surprise when they requested a five-year prison sentence for criminal association without waiting for the completion of the appeal process, which is due to take place before the summer, citing the "exceptional seriousness of the act", and gave the former head of state only a short period to prepare before starting to serve his sentence.
Sarkozy immediately filed a request for release yesterday, and the court has two months to consider the appeal, although the hearing on this should be held more quickly.
He is "obviously a citizen like any other but there are slightly greater threats that apply to him" as a former president of the republic, Nunez said.
Nunez explained that when Sarkozy was transported yesterday from his home in western Paris to the Sante prison in the south of the city, he had a security escort to prevent numerous motorcyclists and journalists from following the car.
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