France's ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy released from prison pending appeal

Paris [France], November 11: France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy left La Sante Prison in Paris on Monday after serving nearly three weeks of a five-year prison sentence, escorted by a police convoy to his home in the capital's upscale 16th arrondissement.
A Paris appeals court had earlier ruled that Sarkozy could await his appeal trial in freedom under judicial supervision. The trial is expected to begin in the spring. A lower court had convicted Sarkozy in September to a five-year sentence for involvement in a criminal organization in connection with alleged campaign finances from the late Libyan dictator Moamer Gaddafi.
The 70-year-old was ordered to report to prison on October 21, despite his team having launched an immediate appeal against the conviction, and has spent the past three weeks behind bars.
Such a harsh sentence for a former head of state is unprecedented in recent French history.
Source: Qatar Tribune