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Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing a personal account in the coming weeks called Diary of a Prisoner, detailing his experience endured in jail.

The announcement came less than two weeks following Sarkozy gained freedom as his appeal proceeds his conviction for criminal conspiracy regarding a scheme to obtain political financing from the regime of former Libyan leader.

Time in Custody: Personal Reflections

“Inside jail one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he writes in a preview, suggesting the book is more about his musings from solitary confinement as opposed to wider commentary of the overcrowded and troubled correctional facilities in the country.

“Silence escapes me, not present in La Santé, where one hears a lot to hear,” he adds. “The din unfortunately never stops. However, akin to empty spaces, personal reflection is strengthened behind bars.”

Release Hearing: Describing the Ordeal

While appealing for release, the former leader participated by video link from a room in prison, characterizing his incarceration as gruelling. He had told the court: “I wish to commend the correctional officers, showing great humanity, and who have made this difficult experience manageable – as it truly is one.”

“I didn’t expect that in my seventies, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal that has been imposed on me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, it’s very hard. It leaves a mark all who experience it as it’s exhausting.”

Unprecedented Situation

He, who led the nation for a five-year term, became the inaugural former head in the European Union and the first leader since WWII from France to serve time in prison.

Before entering jail he mentioned he intended to spend the period to write a book.

Reading Material

Unconfirmed is if he found the opportunity to read and critique the three books he took into prison: a two-volume biography of Jesus and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Monte Cristo, a plot where a blameless person is sentenced to jail then breaks out to exact retribution.

Daily Reality

Sarkozy was placed secluded due to safety concerns in a room of about nine sq metres including private facilities at the correctional facility located in the capital. Two bodyguards were stationed in the next cell.

It was stated that he consumed solely dairy snacks during his stay worried that meals provided may have been contaminated. Options were available for self-catering but refused this, as per accounts. Not known is if he will detail his dietary choices.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, who visited his client every day throughout the jail term, stated during proceedings security would be better outside jail compared to inside. “He received threats against his life, heard shouts at night and emergency responses next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

His incarceration began last month after a French court sentenced him to five years in prison on conspiracy charges over a scheme to acquire political donations during his election campaign.

He denies wrongdoing and has appealed against the verdict, and another court case planned for early next year.