Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been the target of death threats in prison – less than a day after beginning a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy.

A video circulating online, which appeared to have been filmed by an inmate, showed verbal threats being made on Sarkozy’s arrival at Paris’ La Sante prison.

According to Reuters, the Paris prosecutor’s office was alerted to the video yesterday.

Three inmates were questioned as part of the investigation, and two mobile phones were seized during a search of the prison.

Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was jailed on Tuesday after being convicted of conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya.

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News of the threats emerged after it was reported the former president would be assigned two permanent police officers as bodyguards, stationed in nearby cells throughout his time in prison, to ensure he comes to no harm.

The measure sparked complaints from unions.

Hugo Vitry, a guard at La Sante and head of the local branch of the Force Ouvriere union, said they had not been informed about Sarkozy’s security detail.

“We have contacted the prison administration and the Ministry of Justice to demand explanations,” he added.

However, French interior minister Laurent Nunez told Europe 1 radio that Sarkozy was entitled to protection “because of his status”.

He added: “There is obviously a threat against him, and this protection is being maintained while he is in detention.”

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Sarkozy’s lawyers have filed a request for early release, pending his appeals trial, and said that they expected this request to be reviewed in about a month.

They said they hoped to get him freed on early release by Christmas.

Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing and has called the case politically motivated.