Maybe the nation's most legendary prison, the La Santé prison – in which ex-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy has started a five-year prison sentence for unlawful collusion to obtain political donations from the Libyan government – stands as the last remaining prison within the French capital's boundaries.
Situated in the southern Montparnasse district of the city, it was inaugurated in 1867 and hosted of at least 40 executions, the most recent in 1972. Partially shut down for refurbishment in 2014, the prison resumed operations half a decade later and houses in excess of 1,100 prisoners.
Well-known past prisoners include poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the financial trader Jérôme Kerviel, the government official and wartime collaborator Maurice Papon, the businessman and political figure Bernard Tapie, the terrorist from the 1970s Carlos the Jackal, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.
Notable or endangered prisoners are generally held in the prison's QB4 section for “individuals at risk” – the so-called “VIP section” – in individual cells, not the usual three-person units, and kept alone during yard time for safety concerns.
Situated on the first floor, the ward has 19 identical units and a reserved outdoor space so inmates are not required to mix with fellow inmates – while they are still exposed to shouts, jeers and smartphone photos from nearby cells.
Mostly for that reason, Sarkozy is set to be housed in the segregated section, which is in a isolated area. Practically, the environment are largely identical as in the protected unit: the former president will be alone in his cell and escorted by a guard every time he exits.
“The objective is to prevent any problems whatsoever, so we need to block him from coming into contact with fellow detainees,” an insider commented. “The simplest and best approach is to assign Nicolas Sarkozy immediately to segregation.”
Each of the isolation and VIP units are identical to those in other parts in the jail, roughly around eleven square meters, with window coverings designed to reduce contact, a bed, a compact desk, a shower, toilet, and landline telephone with pre-set numbers.
Sarkozy is provided with standard meals but will also have the ability to the commissary, where he can purchase groceries to cook for himself, as well as to a private recreation area, a gym and the book collection. He can rent a fridge for 7.50 euros a monthly and a TV for €14.15.
Apart from three allowed visits a week, he will mainly be by himself – an advantage in the prison, which notwithstanding its recent renovation is functioning at about double its designed capacity of 657 inmates. The country's jails are the third most packed in the EU.
Sarkozy, who has repeatedly protested his non-guilt, has declared he will be bringing with him a account of Jesus and a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, in which an falsely convicted person is sentenced to prison but breaks out to seek vengeance.
Sarkozy’s legal counsel, Jean-Michel Darrois, said he was additionally taking earplugs because the facility can be disruptive at night, and several sweaters, because rooms can be chilly. Sarkozy has commented he is not scared of serving time in jail and intends to utilize the time to write a manuscript.
The duration is unknown, though, for how long he will actually be housed in the facility: his legal team have submitted for his conditional release, and an appeals judge will must establish a risk of escaping, repeat offenses or influencing testimony to justify his continued detention.
France's law specialists have suggested he might be released in less than a month.
An avid hiker and nature photographer with a passion for exploring the Italian Alps and sharing travel insights.
News