Facts and figures: All about the Paris prison where Nicolas Sarkozy will be incarcerated

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will begin a five-year prison sentence next week relating to corruption convictions regarding Libyan-origin financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. 

Alongside the prison sentence, Mr Sarkozy must pay a €100,000 fine. Originally, prosecutors were seeking a seven-year sentence and €300,000 fine. 

The charges add to further separate corruption convictions for the former president.

The five-year term will begin on Tuesday (October 21) at La Santé Prison in Paris. 

Even if Mr Sarkozy appeals – which he is set to do – he must begin to carry out his sentence, as prosecutors sought the use of ‘provisional execution’ in the charges. The legal mechanism allows any decisions made by the court to be enforced immediately.

A similar provision was used against far-right politician Marine Le Pen over embezzlement charges, meaning despite appealing her sentence she cannot run for office in any upcoming election during the hearing (as is possible in cases without provision execution).

The prison is the last such institution inside the capital’s 20 main arrondissements (situated in the southern 14th) and has capacity for up to 800 inmates. 

A renovation completed in 2019 saw cell sizes increased to 9m². 

Mr Sarkozy will be held in a special wing of the prison designated for ‘vulnerable’ individuals, typically reserved for high-profile figures. 

The prison has often been used for famous inmates, dating back to Alfred Dreyfus.