Paris: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is officially in prison as of Tuesday morning to serve his five-year sentence over "criminal conspiracy" in a case involving the Libyan financing of his 2007 election campaign.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sarkozy arrived at the La Sante prison in Paris, becoming the first former French president to be officially incarcerated. More than 100 people gathered near his home to show support, while Sarkozy's lawyer Christophe Ingrain told BFM TV that a request for his release will be made "very quickly," stressing that he will spend "three weeks to a month" in detention before the appeal court rules.

Before he left home, Sarkozy shared a final message through the US social media company X, vowing to continue denouncing the "judicial scandal." He expressed his ongoing struggle against the legal proceedings, which he claims have persisted for more than a decade based on a falsified document.

Sarkozy emphasized that he seeks no special treatment. He conveyed his deep sorrow for France, which he believes has been disgraced by what he describes as an act of vengeance. Sarkozy remains confident that the truth will ultimately prevail, despite the significant cost he feels has been incurred.

The former French president was sentenced last month to five years in prison for conspiracy in a case involving the Libyan financing of his 2007 election campaign. The court found Sarkozy, who denied all wrongdoing, guilty of criminal conspiracy but cleared him of passive corruption and other illegal financing charges.