Paris Court of Appeal Releases Former Banker Wahib Nacer Amid Libyan Case Controversy

On October 28, 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal ordered the release of 81-year-old former banker Wahib Nacer, who was previously imprisoned following his conviction in the high-profile Libyan case linked to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Nacer had been sentenced to four years in prison for aggravated money laundering and complicity in influence trafficking. Despite the public prosecutor's opposition, the court ruled that his detention was no longer necessary to protect evidence or prevent flight, marking a shift in criteria applied at the appeal level compared to the initial trial.

Nacer, who has been incarcerated since September 25, 2025, will remain under judicial control with restrictions including a ban on leaving France and mandatory police reporting. His lawyer, Me Benjamin Bohbot, expressed relief at the decision, emphasizing Nacer's longstanding ties to France and describing the ruling as wise and logical. The court also issued a detention order for Alexander Djouhri, an intermediary in the case, with his release request scheduled for review on November 3.

This development occurs as Nicolas Sarkozy, also convicted in the case with a five-year sentence for conspiracy related to campaign financing, has appealed his sentence. The Court of Appeal clarified that its decision on Nacer's release should not be interpreted as a judgment on the merits of the appeals set for March 2026. The case remains under intense judicial scrutiny as further proceedings unfold.