Former French President Sarkozy Faces Inmate Death Threats in Paris Prison

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year prison sentence at Paris' La Sante prison for criminal conspiracy related to funding his 2007 presidential campaign with Libyan money. Upon his arrival, inmates recorded videos threatening Sarkozy with revenge for the death of Muammar Gaddafi, pointing to his role in the NATO-led intervention that led to Gaddafi's ousting and death. The Paris prosecutor's office launched an investigation after videos surfaced showing inmates making death threats, resulting in interrogations of three prisoners and the seizure of mobile phones. Due to these threats, Sarkozy has been placed under constant protection by two armed police officers stationed in adjacent cells, a measure that has drawn criticism from prison guard unions. Sarkozy denies the charges and his legal team has requested early release pending appeal. The security concerns highlight the ongoing tensions related to Sarkozy's past political and military actions involving Libya.