Sarkozy told the court from prison: I never had any idea or intention to ask Mr Gaddafi for any kind of financing I will never confess to something I didn't do I never imagined that at 70 years of age, I'd be in prison. It's an ordeal that has been imposed on me. I confess it's hard, it's very hard. It leaves a mark on any prisoner because it's gruelling.
Sarkozy was last week sentenced to five years in prison after a court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy over a scheme to get election campaign funds from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He said after the verdict that the hatred towards him definitely has no limits. Sarkozy, who denied wrongdoing and has appealed, will be informed next month when he is to begin his jail sentence.