Sarkozy Released from Prison after Three Weeks

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison after serving three weeks of a five-year sentence for conspiring to fund his 2007 election campaign with money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy was granted early release and will be subject to strict judicial supervision and barred from leaving France ahead of an appeal trial due to be held next year. During his incarceration, Sarkozy was held in solitary confinement and described his experience as 'gruelling' and 'a nightmare'. He maintained his innocence and stated that he would 'never admit to something I haven't done'.

Hannibal Gaddafi, the youngest son of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has been released from Lebanese detention after nearly 10 years without trial. Gaddafi was accused of concealing information about the disappearance of a Lebanese Shia cleric in 1978. His lawyer stated that the $900,000 bail had been paid and that Gaddafi would leave Lebanon for a confidential destination. Human rights groups had previously denounced the accusations against him. Gaddafi's detention has been a point of contention, with his lawyer criticizing the Lebanese justice system's lack of independence.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was released from prison on Monday after a Paris court granted him release under judicial supervision. He had begun serving a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya just 20 days earlier. Sarkozy, who denies wrongdoing, is banned from leaving French territory and from being in touch with key people, including co-defendants and witnesses in the case. An appeals trial is expected to take place later, possibly in the spring. Sarkozy became the first former French head of state in modern times to be sent behind bars after his conviction on September 25. He faces separate proceedings, including a ruling by France's highest court over illegal financing of his failed 2012 reelection bid, and an ongoing investigation into alleged witness tampering in the Libya case.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison after serving 20 days of a five-year sentence for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya. Sarkozy was jailed in October after being convicted of criminal conspiracy related to the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential election campaign. He was released pending his appeal, which is expected to take place later, possibly in the spring. Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing and claimed the case is politically motivated. During his time in prison, Sarkozy reportedly received death threats, and as a result, was assigned two permanent police officers as bodyguards.