Former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, arrived on Tuesday at a Paris prison to begin a five-year sentence, television images showed.

Mr Sarkozy, 70, was convicted of having participated in a criminal organisation in connection with alleged campaign finances from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Mr Sarkozy remained defiant until the end, posting on X a statement repeating his claim that he was innocent.

“I will continue to denounce this judicial scandal,” he wrote in a statement.

He said his conviction came after a long investigation based on a document the falsification of which has now been established.

Mr Sarkozy was found guilty at the end of September and the court ordered the immediate enforcement of the sentence, in spite of the former president having filed an appeal.

He can apply for conditional release immediately after starting his sentence due to his age.

In France, such a provision applied to inmates aged 70 and older, allowing them to serve their sentence outside prison under certain conditions.

Before Mr Sarkozy’s imprisonment, he was received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, the president’s official residence, on Friday, the palace confirmed upon request.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that he would visit Mr Sarkozy in prison.

The Libya affair revolves around allegations that Mr Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign received illegal funds from the Gaddafi regime.

While the Paris criminal court found no evidence of illegal campaign funds.

It concluded in its ruling that the conservative politician and close ally of Gaddafi had at least attempted to obtain funds from the Libyan leader.

The former French leader is serving his sentence at La Santé prison in central Paris and is expected to be housed in a special unit for inmates requiring extra protection but will not receive preferential treatment.

He may also be placed in an isolated area.

Regardless of where he is housed in the prison, the cells are all the same, measuring between nine and 12 square metres.

They include a shower, a refrigerator and a television.

The bed is narrow, and there is a small desk.

Upon arrival at the prison, Mr Sarkozy must undergo the same procedures as all new inmates, according to broadcaster BFMTV.

His fingerprints and a photo were taken and he was issued with a prisoner ID and number.

Mr Sarkozy, like all new inmates, has to undergo a strip search, the broadcaster reported.

He was then provided with hygiene items, clothing, bed linen and writing materials.

It is believed that Mr Sarkozy plans to write a book about his time in prison. 

(Xinhua/NAN)