Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reportedly been the target of verbal abuse and threats from fellow inmates since his incarceration.
Despite heightened security measures following his first night at La Santé prison, new videos circulating on social media show prisoners shouting his name, cursing, and threatening him during the night.
A day earlier, three inmates were placed in custody after a video surfaced showing them making explicit threats against the former president. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that two mobile phones were seized and that an investigation has been launched into the threats against Sarkozy’s life.
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the incidents, emphasizing that the situation poses a real risk to Sarkozy’s safety.
“This video shows that there is indeed a threat to President Nicolas Sarkozy, and special attention must be given to his detention conditions,” Darmanin said.
Sarkozy, who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012, began serving a five-year prison sentence on Tuesday after being convicted of conspiracy and illegal campaign financing from Libya.
The former president is currently under the protection of two armed police officers while in prison — a measure that has sparked protests from prison unions, who argue that it creates unequal treatment among inmates.
