Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of criminal conspiracy in connection with illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign.

The 70-year-old arrived at La Santé prison in Paris on Tuesday, becoming the first former president in modern French history to be incarcerated. He is being held in a secure, isolated section of the facility for safety reasons.

Sarkozy was found guilty of participating in a scheme that allegedly involved receiving illicit campaign funding tied to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. While he was acquitted of passive corruption and misuse of Libyan public funds, the court ruled that his involvement in a criminal association was of “exceptional gravity.” He was also fined €100,000 and barred from holding public office for five years.

Despite the conviction, Sarkozy has maintained his innocence, denouncing the case as a “judicial scandal” and vowing to clear his name. His legal team has filed an appeal and is seeking provisional release while the case is reviewed.

The sentencing has sparked intense debate across France, with some of his supporters calling the verdict politically motivated, while critics argue it demonstrates that no one is above the law.

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, remains a significant figure within conservative political circles. His imprisonment marks a watershed moment in French politics and raises questions about legal accountability for former heads of state as the appeal process unfolds.