"A lower court in September found the right-winger -- who was head of state from 2007 to 2012 -- guilty of seeking to acquire funding from Moamer Kadhafi's Libya for the campaign that saw him elected, and sentenced him to five years behind bars. The 70-year-old entered jail on October 21st, becoming the first former head of an EU state to be incarcerated, and his lawyers immediately sought his release."
"But the appeals case means that Sarkozy is now presumed innocent again, and the court will therefore be evaluating his need for pre-trial detention. Under French law, he can only be kept behind bars if no other way can be found to safeguard evidence, prevent witness tampering, stop him from escaping or reoffending, or to protect him. Otherwise, Sarkozy will be allowed out under judicial control, and perhaps put under house arrest with an electronic ankle tag."
A Paris appeals hearing will determine whether former president Nicolas Sarkozy can be released from jail pending his appeals trial on allegations of seeking Libyan campaign funding. A lower court convicted him in September and sentenced him to five years, prompting his October 21st incarceration and immediate requests for release. The appeals court will review his detention with Sarkozy appearing by video call and may order immediate release. French law restricts pre-trial detention to cases where evidence, witnesses, flight risk, reoffending, or personal protection cannot be otherwise secured. Judicial control, house arrest, or electronic tagging are possible alternatives. Sarkozy has spent over two weeks in solitary confinement with two bodyguards nearby for his safety.
Read at The Local France
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