Former French Pres. Starts Prison Term 10/21 06:12

   

   PARIS (AP) -- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at a prison in 
Paris on Tuesday to begin serving a 5-year sentence for a criminal conspiracy 
to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya -- a historic 
moment that makes him the first ex-leader of modern France to be imprisoned.

   Sarkozy, 70, was greeted by hundreds of supporters when he walked out of his 
Paris home hand-in-hand with his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. He embraced her 
before getting into a police car.

   On his way to prison, Sarkozy released a statement on social media declaring 
that "an innocent man" was being locked up.

   Minutes later, the vehicle passed through the gates of the notorious La 
Sant prison -- where Sarkozy will now serve his sentence in solitary 
confinement.

   Sarkozy was convicted last month for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to 
finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya.

   He contests both the conviction and a judge's unusual decision to 
incarcerate him pending appeal. His lawyers said Tuesday that they filed an 
immediate request for his release.

   "It's an ominous day for him, for France, and for our institutions, because 
this incarceration is a disgrace," Sarkozy's lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois told 
reporters soon after his incarceration.

   Solitary confinement

   Sarkozy's lawyers said he will be kept away from all other prisoners for 
security reasons.

   Sarkozy told Le Figaro newspaper that he would bring three books -- the 
maximum allowed -- including Alexandre Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo," in 
which the hero escapes from an island prison before seeking revenge. His 
lawyers said he packed a bag with a few sweaters because the prison is cold and 
earplugs because it's noisy.

   Christophe Ingrain, another of Sarkozy's lawyers, denounced "a serious 
injustice."

   "It's a very difficult time, but the president has stood strong," Ingrain 
said. "He doesn't complain, hasn't asked for anything, no special treatment."

   Sarkozy will be allowed to go outdoors one hour per day alone in the prison 
yard and to get three visits per week from his family, Ingrain said, adding 
that he is planning to write a book about his prison experience.

   An outpouring of support for the ex-president

   Sarkozy's journey from the presidential Elyse Palace to La Sant prison has 
captivated France.

   After leaving their home, Sarkozy and his wife walked slowly to join family 
members, including his children and grandchildren, outside his home.

   "I'm very proud to share his name, and very proud of how he's reacting," 
said his brother, Guillaume Sarkozy. "I'm truly convinced that he is innocent."

   Hundreds of supporters applauded and chanted "Nicolas, Nicolas" and sang the 
French anthem. Two French flags were hung on a nearby fence, with the words 
"Courage Nicolas, return soon" and "true France with Nicolas."

   Parisian resident Virginie Rochon, 44, came in support of Sarkozy, calling 
it "scandalous" to see "a former president being taken away while still 
presumed innocent."

   Another supporter, Vronique Maurey, 50, said "it's just not possible. And 
on top of that, calling it a 'criminal conspiracy' kind of makes all of us feel 
like criminals too because we voted for him. It's not right to say that."

   Meeting with Macron

   Embattled centrist President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conservative Sarkozy 
at the presidential palace last week. ''I have always been very clear in my 
public statements about the independence of the judiciary in my role, but it 
was normal on a human level to receive one of my predecessors in this 
context,'' Macron said Monday.

   Sarkozy has been retired from active politics for years but remains very 
influential, especially in conservative circles.

   "I'm not afraid of prison. I'll hold my head high, including in front of the 
doors of La Sant," he told La Tribune Dimanche newspaper last week. "I'll 
fight till the end."

   The Paris court ruled that Sarkozy would start to serve prison time without 
waiting for his appeal to be heard, due to "the seriousness of the disruption 
to public order caused by the offense."

   In its Sept. 25 ruling, the court said Sarkozy, as a presidential candidate 
and interior minister, used his position "to prepare corruption at the highest 
level" from 2005 to 2007, to finance his presidential campaign with funds from 
Libya -- then led by longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

   Under the ruling, Sarkozy was able to file a request for release to the 
appeals court only once behind bars. Judges have up to two months to process it.