Frenchman freed after years on death row in Indonesia
PARIS : A Frenchman who spent almost two decades on death row in Indonesia over drug offences before being returned to France left prison today after being granted a conditional release.
Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old welder from Metz in eastern France, was flown back to home in February after being on death row in Indonesia since 2007.
He was greeted by his lawyer, Richard Sedillot, as he walked out of the gate of Meaux prison near Paris, wearing a white T-shirt and grey trousers.
'He will be able to breathe the freedom that he waited for all these years,' his wife, Sabine Atlaoui, told RTL broadcaster shortly before his release, which she called 'unbelievable'.
She had not yet 'fully realised' that her husband 'is back and will be with us again every day', she said.
The father of four had his sentence adapted by the French courts to 30 years' imprisonment and then was approved for conditional release.
'The story of Serge Atlaoui, who was sentenced to death, is a life lesson,' Sedillot told AFP while he waited for his client.
'His resilience, his courage, his patience and his humanity are lessons for all of us.'
Diplomatic pressure
Atlaoui was arrested in 2005 at a factory in a Jakarta suburb where dozens of kilogrammes of drugs were discovered, and accused of being a 'chemist' by the authorities.
He has always denied being a drug trafficker, saying he was installing machinery in what he thought was an acrylic factory.
Initially sentenced to life in prison, he had his sentence reviewed by the Indonesia's Supreme Court and changed to death on appeal.
He was due to be executed alongside eight others in 2015 but was granted a reprieve after Paris applied pressure and the Indonesian authorities allowed an outstanding appeal to proceed.
Atlaoui's case attracted attention in Indonesia and in France, where supporters saw him as a symbol of the fight against the death penalty.
France abolished capital punishment in 1981.
Pressure applied by the French government was key to her husband's release, Sabine Atlaoui said.
'It's very clear that diplomatic efforts during all those years allowed my husband to return,' she said.
Indonesia, which has some of the world's toughest drug laws, has recently released several high-profile detainees, including a Filipina mother on death row and the last five members of the so-called 'Bali Nine' drug ring.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
X calls French foreign interference probe ‘politically motivated'
X complained of bias in French authorities' choice of experts to examine its algorithm. (EPA Images pic) PARIS : A French probe into alleged foreign interference and bias via the algorithm at Elon Musk-owned social network X is 'politically motivated', the company said in a post today, adding that it was refusing to cooperate. 'X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech,' the social network said. It added that it 'has not acceded to the French authorities' demands' to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data, 'as we have a legal right to do'. Cybercrime prosecutors announced the opening of the probe on July 11 into suspected crimes including manipulating and extracting data from automated systems 'as part of a criminal gang'. The move followed two complaints received in January about 'foreign interference' in French politics via X – one of them from Eric Bothorel, an MP from president Emmanuel Macron's centrist party. Bothorel had complained of 'reduced diversity of voices and options' and Musk's 'personal interventions' on the network since his 2022 takeover of the former Twitter. The Tesla and SpaceX chief has raised hackles in Europe with political sallies, including vocal backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of February legislative elections. 'Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate,' Bothorel said after the investigation was announced. The company responded today saying, 'Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes, an allegation which is completely false.' Prosecutors have not confirmed whether they are also investigating under a French law against foreign interference in politics passed last year. X also complained of bias in French authorities' choice of experts to examine its algorithm, including mathematician David Chavalarias and computer scientist Maziyar Panahi. Both have been involved in a scheme called 'HelloQuitteX', designed to make it easier for users to migrate their X presence to other social networks. Picking them 'raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness and political motivations of the investigation', the company said. It also objected to the use of the 'organised gang' aggravating circumstance. The characterisation 'is usually reserved for drug cartels or mafia groups' and 'enables the French police to deploy extensive investigative powers… including wiretapping the personal devices of X employees', the company said.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
SMM blasts ‘politically motivated' allegations surrounding viral photo, threatens legal action
Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd has refuted any wrongdoing arising from a photograph that has gone viral recently, saying it was taken during a working visit to Indonesia in August 2024. PETALING JAYA : Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has threatened legal action against media outlets and others over the continued publication of 'false, misleading, and defamatory' allegations stemming from a now-viral photograph of its officials. In a statement addressing the photo which features current CEO Natasha Sim alongside several officials, the state-owned agency said: 'SMM unequivocally denies that any wrongdoing occurred.' It described the controversy as 'politically motivated' and part of a 'broader campaign to damage the company and its officers'. 'Should these baseless accusations continue to circulate, we will not hesitate to initiate legal action, including against media outlets for defamation and malicious falsehood,' the statement read. SMM noted that the allegations relate to an ongoing lawsuit involving Sim's predecessor, Jontih Enggihon, and businessman Albert Tei. The suit includes claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tampering with official documents, and conspiracy to injure. 'The current wave of public allegations appears to recycle issues already under judicial scrutiny,' it said. It clarified that the photograph was taken during a working visit in August 2024 as part of foreign direct investment discussions with a mining conglomerate in Indonesia. The visit followed board approval in February 2024 and was led by Sim, then serving as chief strategy officer. It added that the first trip to the conglomerate's base had occurred in March 2023, and was initiated by Jontih as part of a due diligence exercise. The partnership was formally recommended to the board by Jontih in December 2023. On July 18, Malaysiakini reported that the now viral photograph had 'triggered a fresh political storm'. Apart from Sim, the photograph featured SMM secretary Emily Chong and Sabah timber tycoon Elbert Lim next to a private jet. The portal quoted Warisan assemblyman Justin Wong as claiming the photo had sparked a new scandal engulfing SMM.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Sabah Mineral refutes allegations linked to viral jet photo
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has refuted allegations linked to a viral photo allegedly showing its chief executive officer, Natasha Sim, and company secretary, Emily Chong, beside a private aircraft. In a statement today, the state-owned company clarified that the image, taken during an official working visit, had been misrepresented in reports tying it to questionable dealings with a foreign mining conglomerate. SMM said the first visit to the Indonesia-based conglomerate in March 2023 was part of a due diligence exercise initiated by former chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon. The trip aimed to explore potential collaboration. In December that year, Jontih formally recommended the partnership to the board of directors, citing the Indonesian company's industry practices. The board gave its approval in February 2024 and appointed Sim, who was then chief strategy officer, as lead liaison to facilitate discussions on foreign direct investment. The August 2024 trip, during which the viral photo was taken, was part of this engagement. SMM emphasised that in December 2024, both Sim and Chong had cooperated fully with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, submitting detailed statements and documents related to the work trip. An internal inquiry that concluded in February this year found no wrongdoing and confirmed there was no conflict of interest, personal gain or undue influence. "The negative insinuations of wrongdoing made in these media reports are entirely false, misleading and defamatory. "SMM unequivocally denies that any wrongdoing occurred," the statement said. The company stressed that it was not a licensing authority and that the chief executive officer had no legal or administrative power to grant or approve licences. SMM claimed that the sudden re-emergence of the issue could be politically motivated, as it coincided with ongoing legal proceedings involving Jontih and businessman Albert Tei. The duo are being sued for alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tampering with official documents and conspiracy to injure. "The current wave of public allegations appears to recycle issues already under judicial scrutiny and may be part of a broader campaign to damage the company and its officers." SMM urged the media, politicians and the public to verify facts before repeating potentially defamatory claims. SMM warned that it would not hesitate to take legal action against any party, including media outlets, public figures or individuals, who continue to circulate baseless accusations.
