Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was found guilty of bribery and other charges at the end of last year, is now facing humiliation for wearing an electronic monitoring device.
The French daily Le Parisien reported that the court ruled last week that Sarkozy must wear an electronic ankle bracelet starting February 7. As a result, Sarkozy will be required to wear the electronic tag for one year and will only be permitted to leave his residence during specific hours.
With this, Sarkozy became the first former French president subjected to electronic monitoring.
Sarkozy, president from 2007 to 2012, was accused in 2014 of promising a high-ranking position to a judge in exchange for insider information about an investigation into his campaign finance irregularities. He has consistently denied the allegations.
However, on December 18 last year, the French Supreme Court upheld the lower courts’ rulings, confirming Sarkozy’s guilt of corruption and abuse of power. As a result, the court sentenced him to three years in prison, with two years suspended. The remaining year will be served under house arrest, monitored by the electronic bracelet. Furthermore, Sarkozy is banned from running for public office for the next three years.
Under French criminal law, inmates over 70 can apply for conditional release. Consequently, it is unlikely that Sarkozy will complete the full year of house arrest.
In a separate case, Sarkozy is currently standing trial for allegedly receiving substantial illegal campaign contributions from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi before the 2007 French presidential election.
