France, Oct. 13 -- Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will begin serving a five-year prison sentence on 21 October for criminal conspiracy over alleged illegal funding of his 2007 election campaign by Libya, French media reported on Monday.

The 70-year-old will be held at La Sante prison in Paris, sources close to the case told the French news agency AFP.

Sarkozy learned the details of his detention during a short meeting at the financial prosecutor's office earlier in the day.

An AFP journalist saw him arrive in a car with tinted windows and leave about 45 minutes later without making any comment. He was later seen returning home.

Sarkozy denies wrongdoing and has appealed against his conviction. A new trial is expected in the c...