PARIS: France’s interior minister has confirmed that former president Nicolas Sarkozy will be protected by two security officers while serving his prison sentence.
Laurent Nunez told local media that Sarkozy maintains his protection arrangement due to his status and existing threats against him.
The interior minister’s statement confirmed earlier reports from sources about the security measures.
Two security officers are stationed in a neighbouring cell at La Sante prison where Sarkozy was incarcerated on Tuesday.
The right-wing leader served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012 before his legal troubles began.
He was found guilty last month of seeking campaign funding from Moamer Kadhafi’s Libyan government.
Sarkozy received a five-year prison term for criminal conspiracy in the high-profile case.
Prison staff revealed he would be held in a nine square metre cell in the solitary confinement wing.
This placement aims to prevent contact with other prisoners during his incarceration.
Solitary confinement prisoners are permitted one daily walk alone in a small yard.
Sarkozy will also be allowed three visits per week under prison regulations.
He becomes the first former head of an European Union state to be imprisoned.
The former French president is also the first national leader incarcerated since Philippe Petain.
Petain was the Nazi collaborationist head of state jailed after World War II.
Sarkozy has faced numerous legal problems since losing his 2012 re-election bid.
He has already been convicted in two other separate legal cases. – AFP
