Paris: Former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was officially informed on Monday of the date and location of the start of his five-year prison sentence for involvement in a criminal conspiracy, though the details remained private. The judiciary communicated the details to Sarkozy in person, though neither the prosecutor’s office nor his legal team have disclosed them publicly.

According to Ghana News Agency, after his meeting with judicial authorities, the ex-president returned to his home in Paris’s upscale 16th district. Sarkozy was sentenced at the end of September to five years in prison, including one year suspended, after being found guilty of participating in a criminal organization in connection with alleged campaign finances from late Libyan dictator Moamer Gaddafi.

The court ordered the immediate enforcement of the sentence, meaning Sarkozy must serve time even though he has lodged an appeal. He has consistently denied all charges. Because Sarkozy is over 70, he may immediately apply for conditional release, which would allow him to serve his sentence outside of prison under supervision. French law provides this option for elderly prisoners.

It is widely assumed that Sarkozy will be held at La Sant© Prison in Paris, which includes a secure wing for high-profile inmates requiring special protection. The Libya affair revolves around accusations that funds from the Gaddafi regime were illegally funneled into Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign, which he won. While the Paris criminal court found no proof that such payments were made, it concluded that Sarkozy and his close associates had actively sought financial support from Gaddafi’s leadership.