š Share this article Nicolas Sarkozy Preparing to Release Prison Memoir Chronicling Two Dozen Days Incarcerated The ex-president of France is preparing a personal account this autumn named Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts his time endured behind bars. This news was made less than two weeks after Sarkozy left prison as he contests the guilty verdict related to criminal conspiracy in a case to acquire presidential race money linked to the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi. Time in Custody: Personal Reflections āInside jail visibility is limited, and activities are scarce,ā he reflects in one passage, indicating the account will focus on his thoughts from isolation instead of extensive analysis of the strained and troubled correctional facilities in the country. āSilence escapes me, not present in La SantĆ©, where noise is constant sound,ā he states. āThe racket unfortunately never stops. However, akin to empty spaces, inner life is fortified in prison.ā Court Appearance: Sharing the Struggle At his release request hearing, he participated by video link from inside the facility, depicting prison life as exhausting. He stated to the judge: āI want to pay tribute the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this ordeal bearable ā because it is a nightmare.ā āIt never crossed my mind at this stage of life, Iād be in prison. Itās a trial I must endure. Itās challenging, I acknowledge, extremely tough. It leaves a mark every inmate due to its intensity.ā Unprecedented Situation Sarkozy, who led the nation from 2007 to 2012, was the first former head in the European Union and the initial post-WWII figure of France to serve time in prison. Before entering jail he declared he planned to utilize the opportunity to write a book. Cell Library It is not certain whether he had time to go through the texts he had in his cell: a life story of Jesus spanning two books together with Dumasās work the classic tale, where an innocent man is sentenced to jail but escapes to seek vengeance. Daily Reality The former leader was held secluded to protect him in a room approximately nine square meters with his own shower and toilet at the correctional facility in Paris. Two bodyguards were stationed in a neighbouring cell. Reports indicated his diet consisted only yoghurts during his stay worried that meals provided might have been spat on. Options were available to prepare his own meals yet he declined, according to reports. It is uncertain whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration. Lawyerās Statements Sarkozyās lawyer, Christophe Ingrain every day throughout the jail term, told the release hearing security would be better outside jail rather than in custody. āThere were threats against his life, has heard screaming at night and the urgent intervention in an adjacent room during an inmateās self-injury.ā Case Background His incarceration began on 21 October when the judiciary imposed five years in prison on conspiracy charges over a scheme to obtain political donations for his presidential bid. He maintains his innocence and is contesting the ruling, and another court case set for the coming spring.