Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (70) will not have to wait in prison for a new verdict in one of his corruption cases. The Paris Court of Appeal decided this Monday afternoon. According to BFM TV, he will be released from La Santé prison in Paris today and placed under"judicial supervision."

Sarkozy was convicted at the end of September for criminal conspiracy involving Libyan campaign financing. He had his associates negotiate with Libyan leader Moammar al-Gaddafi to illegally finance his 2007 presidential campaign. He was sentenced to five years in prison. This sentence took effect immediately due to the"exceptional gravity" of the crimes.

The Public Prosecutor's Office acknowledged the"extreme seriousness of the offenses" but nevertheless demanded the former president's release on Monday. As expected, it invoked a French law that stipulates that people may only be held in custody if imprisonment is the"sole means" of preventing escape or recidivism, ensuring his safety, preserving evidence, or preventing coercion or collusion. Moreover, Sarkozy is 70 and could therefore also request early release. He can now await his appeal trial at home.

Death threats

Sarkozy's lawyers argued that the former president would be safer outside prison than behind bars. Speaking Monday during his parole hearing, Sarkozy stated via video link that he was having a"hard time" in jail."It's very hard, certainly for any prisoner. I would even say it's exhausting." He reiterated that he "will never confess to anything he hasn't done."

At the end of October, the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into death threats against Sarkozy. This was prompted by online videos in which inmates had made threats against the former president's cell. Sarkozy was given extra security in prison and was constantly escorted by two armed officers. During the parole hearing, Sarkozy stated that only the prison staff"made this nightmare bearable."

According to the former president's lawyers, Monday's verdict is only the first step in the process."The next step is the appeal," responded lawyer Christophe Ingrain."Our task now, for Nicolas Sarkozy and for us, is to prepare for that appeal." Pending that trial, which is expected to begin in March, Sarkozy is not allowed to leave the country, according to France Info. The former president is also not allowed to have contact with other suspects or the office of Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. This latter ban comes after Darmanin visited Sarkozy in prison. According to France's top prosecutor, Rémy Heitz, the visit posed a"risk of disturbing the peace" and "undermined the independence of magistrates."