Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to begin a prison term after a court on Thursday sentenced him to five years for criminal conspiracy related to Libya , marking an unprecedented punishment for a prominent French political figure.

The sentence was harsher than many expected, and a first in modern French political history. Sarkozy, who was president between 2007 and 2012, will spend time in jail even if he appeals the ruling.

As he exited the courtroom, Sarkozy expressed his anger at the ruling. “What happened today … is of extreme gravity in regard to the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system,” he told reporters.

“If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high,” he said, adding that he was innoce

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