Live from Paris as Nicolas Sarkozy’s family holds a gathering on Tuesday, October 21, in support of the former French president as he begins a five-year prison sentence.

In September, a Paris criminal court sentenced Sarkozy to five years for criminal conspiracy over alleged financing of his 2007 presidential campaign from the then-Libyan govt - led by Muammar Gaddafi.

Once in custody, Sarkozy's defence team could file a request for release at the Court of Appeals, which has two months to issue a decision. Sarkozy is the first former French head of state in modern history to serve time in prison.