(MENAFN) Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has officially entered prison as of Tuesday morning to begin serving his five-year sentence for "criminal conspiracy" related to the Libyan funding of his 2007 presidential campaign.

Sarkozy arrived at La Santé prison in Paris, making history as the first former French president to be formally incarcerated, as reported by a news agency.

A crowd of more than 100 people gathered outside his residence to express their support, while his attorney, Christophe Ingrain, informed the news agency that a request for Sarkozy’s release would be submitted "very quickly."

Ingrain emphasized that Sarkozy would likely spend "three weeks to a month" in custody before an appeals court makes its ruling on the matter.

Before leaving his home, Sarkozy shared a final statement on the social media platform X, where he vowed to continue speaking out against what he termed the "judicial scandal."

He declared, "I will continue to denounce this judicial scandal, this ordeal I have been enduring for more than ten years. So here is a case of illegal financing without the slightest financing!

A long-running judicial inquiry launched on the basis of a document whose falsity is now established." Sarkozy further noted that he is not seeking any special treatment or privileges.

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