🔗 Share this article The Former French President to Pen Jail Diary Chronicling Three Weeks Incarcerated Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing a book in the coming weeks titled Notes from a Cell, which recounts the period served behind bars. The revelation was made less than two weeks following Sarkozy left prison while his appeal proceeds the guilty verdict on charges of criminal conspiracy in a case to acquire political financing provided by the government of former Libyan leader. Prison Experience: Solitary Musings “Inside jail there is nothing to see, with little to occupy time,” he writes in one passage, indicating the account is more about his thoughts from solitary confinement instead of a broader observation of the packed and struggling correctional facilities in the country. “I forget silence, which doesn’t exist at the prison, where one hears constant sound,” he adds. “The racket persists relentlessly. Yet, similar to barren lands, personal reflection grows stronger while incarcerated.” Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship At his release request hearing, he was present by video link from inside the facility, describing his time inside as draining. He stated to the judge: “I want to pay tribute those working in the jail, showing great humanity, and who helped make this difficult experience manageable – as it truly is one.” “I didn’t expect that in my seventies, I would end up incarcerated. It’s an ordeal I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, extremely tough. It leaves a mark every inmate as it’s exhausting.” First of Its Kind He, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, was the first ex-leader of an EU country and the first postwar leader from France to experience jail. Ahead of his incarceration he declared he planned to utilize the opportunity to compose an account. Reading Material Unconfirmed is did he manage to go through the texts he brought with him: a biography of Jesus in two parts together with Dumas’s work the classic tale, in which a blameless person ends up incarcerated then breaks out to seek vengeance. Life in Confinement He was held secluded for his own security in a cell of about nine sq metres featuring a personal bathroom at La Santé prison in the city. Security personnel were stationed in an adjacent room. Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts in prison due to concerns meals provided may have been contaminated. Options were available to cook for himself but he turned this down, based on unnamed sources. Not known is if he will detail meals during incarceration. Legal Perspective The legal representative, who visited his client each day while he was in prison, informed the court security would be better outside jail rather than in custody. “He received threats against his life, has heard screaming after dark and emergency responses next door when a prisoner self-harmed.” Case Background He entered custody in late October when the judiciary gave him a five-year sentence on conspiracy charges over a scheme to acquire election financing during his election campaign. He maintains his innocence and is contesting the ruling, and a fresh trial is scheduled for early next year.