A French court is expected to decide on Monday whether to release ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy from jail pending an appeals trial over allegations that he sought Libyan funding.

A lower court in September found the right-winger — who was head of state from 2007 to 2012 — guilty of seeking to acquire funding from Moamer Kadhafi’s Libya for the campaign that saw him elected, and sentenced him to five years behind bars.

The 70-year-old entered jail on October 21, becoming the first former head of an EU state to be incarcerated, and his lawyers immediately sought his release.

The Paris Appeals Court is to examine that request from 8:30 GMT, with Sarkozy making an appearance via video call, and is expected to make a decision during the day.

If the court approves his request, he could be imm

See Full Page