🔗 Share this article Nicolas Sarkozy Preparing to Release Jail Diary Chronicling His 20 Days In Custody The ex-president of France plans a personal account in the coming weeks called Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling the period served in jail. The announcement emerged less than two weeks following the ex-leader gained freedom while he contests the guilty verdict for illegal collaboration in a case to acquire political financing linked to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Time in Custody: Solitary Musings “Behind bars there is nothing to see, with little to occupy time,” he notes in a preview, suggesting the account is more about his reflections while in isolation rather than a broader observation on the packed and crisis-hit jail system in France. “Quiet is absent, which is missing in that facility, where noise is constant sound,” he continues. “The racket unfortunately never stops. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world is fortified behind bars.” Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal At his release request hearing, the former leader was present remotely from a room in prison, describing his time inside as draining. He stated to the judge: “I wish to commend the correctional officers, showing great humanity, and who helped make this nightmare manageable – since it’s deeply troubling.” “I never imagined that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a hardship that has been imposed on me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, it’s very hard. It has an impact all who experience it because it’s gruelling.” First of Its Kind Sarkozy, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, was the first past president in the European Union and the initial post-WWII figure of France to be incarcerated. Prior to imprisonment he mentioned he planned to utilize the opportunity for authoring a memoir. Books in Prison It remains unclear did he manage to review and analyze the volumes he brought with him: a life story of Jesus spanning two books together with Dumas’s work the classic tale, in which a blameless person is imprisoned then breaks out to take revenge. Life in Confinement Sarkozy was held in isolation for his own security in a room of about nine sq metres including private facilities at La Santé prison in the city. Security personnel stayed in an adjacent room. It was stated that he had eaten only yoghurts while inside due to concerns any food may have been contaminated. Although he had access for self-catering yet he declined, according to reports. It is uncertain if he will detail his dietary choices. Legal Perspective Sarkozy’s lawyer, who saw him regularly daily throughout the jail term, told the release hearing security would be better out of prison compared to inside. “There were menacing messages, has heard screaming during nighttime plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed.” Legal Proceedings He entered custody last month when a French court gave him five years in prison for criminal conspiracy over a scheme to obtain election financing for his 2007 presidential race. He disputes the charges and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial is scheduled for the coming spring.