OverThereMartha Stewart is being released from jail this week after serving a five-month sentence for lying to US federal authorities about a stock sale - but will have to spend five months confined in her house in Bedford, New York.
Previously America's homemaker-in-chief, with an unblemished reputation until 2002, Stewart became embroiled in accusations of insider dealing, was convicted of lying to investigators and sentenced to five months in prison and given a $30,000 (€22,700) fine.
She was also sentenced to five months of home confinement and, given her status as America's domestic diva, this aspect of her sentence may suit her perfectly. About her time in jail, Ms Stewart said she did a lot of "washing, scrubbing, sweeping, vacuuming, raking leaves, and much more" and complained about the quality of the prison food .
Stewart was initially anxious to appeal her conviction but then decided because of an "intense desire and need to put this nightmare behind me" to report to prison in early October. Part of the reasoning behind her decision was that she could complete her sentence in time to go home to plant her spring garden.
Her time in jail has effected the value of her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. It was worth $2.52 billion (€1.909 billion) on the day in 1999 when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange - making Ms Stewart's share worth $1.77 billion (€1.341 billion). Before her sentence, it was worth some $400 million (€302.7 million). However, the share price rose 36 per cent when her sentence was announced.
