Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves his home to begin serving a five-year prison sentence at La Sante prison in Paris, France, on October 21. Henrique Campos/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images Paris —

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be released from prison after a Paris court ruled Monday he could be freed pending an appeal for his September conviction for criminal conspiracy, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.

He was convicted for his involvement in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential  campaign with funds  from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors.

Speaking to the court Monday via videolink, he said that his 20 days in prison had been, “very hard.”

Prosecutors requested Sarkozy be released under judicial control, with restrictions on whom he can conta

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