Latest news with #Atlaoui
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Frenchman on Indonesia death row for years released from Paris prison
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Serge Atlaoui is greeted by his lawyer Richard Sedillot as he leaves prison on conditional release. PARIS – A Frenchman who spent almost two decades on death row in Indonesia over drug offences before being returned to France left prison on July 18 after being granted a conditional release. Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old welder from Metz in eastern France, was flown back to France in February after being on death row in Indonesia since 2007. He was greeted by his lawyer, Mr 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 for all these years,' his wife, Ms Sabine Atlaoui, told RTL broadcaster shortly before his release, which she called 'unbelievable'. She has 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,' Mr Sedillot said. 'His resilience, his courage, his patience and his humanity are lessons for all of us.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student who used AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore Character counts as much as grades: Desmond Lee tells students after a class on race and culture Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore at Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high 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 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, Ms Atlaoui said. 'It's very clear that diplomatic efforts during all those years allowed my husband to return,' she said.
Local France
5 days ago
- Local France
Frenchman given conditional release after years on Indonesia death row
Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old welder from Metz, was flown back to France in February after being on death row in Indonesia since 2007. The father of four, currently incarcerated near Paris, had his sentence adapted by the French courts to 30 years imprisonment. Atlaoui was approved for conditional release on July 18, the prosecutor's office in Meaux said in a statement, adding that it is subject to follow-up obligations. 'It has been a very long battle, there was no question of me giving up at any moment. This is a very great moment for me today, and it will be for him as soon as he is released,' his lawyer Richard Sedillot told AFP. 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 that he was installing machinery in what he believed was an acrylic factory. Initially sentenced to life in prison, his sentence was reviewed by Indonesia's supreme court and changed to death on appeal. Advertisement He was due to be executed alongside eight others in 2015, but was granted a reprieve after Paris applied pressure and Indonesian authorities allowed an outstanding appeal to proceed. 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.
LeMonde
5 days ago
- LeMonde
French court grants conditional release to man who spent years on Indonesia death row
A Frenchman who spent almost two decades on death row in Indonesia over drug offenses before being returned to France has been granted a conditional release, prosecutors said Tuesday, July 15. Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old welder from Metz, was flown back to France in February after being on death row in Indonesia since 2007. The father of four, currently incarcerated near Paris, had his sentence adapted by the French courts to 30 years imprisonment. Atlaoui has been approved for conditional release on July 18, the prosecutor's office in Meaux said in a statement, adding that it is subject to follow-up obligations. "It has been a very long battle, there was no question of me giving up at any moment. This is a very great moment for me today, and it will be for him as soon as he is released," his lawyer Richard Sédillot told Agence France-Presse. Denies being a 'chemist' Atlaoui was arrested in 2005 at a factory in a Jakarta suburb where dozens of kilos of drugs were discovered and accused of being a "chemist" by the authorities. He has always denied being a drug trafficker, saying that he was installing machinery in what he thought was an acrylic factory. Initially sentenced to life in prison, his sentence was 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. 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.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
Frenchman given conditional release after 20 years on Indonesia's death row
PARIS: A Frenchman who spent almost two decades on death row in Indonesia over drug offences before being returned to France has been granted conditional release, prosecutors said Tuesday. Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old welder from Metz, was flown back to France in February after being on death row in Indonesia since 2007. The father of four, currently incarcerated near Paris, had his sentence adapted by the French courts to 30 years' imprisonment. Atlaoui has been approved for conditional release on July 18, the prosecutor's office in Meaux said in a statement, adding that it is subject to follow-up obligations. "It has been a very long battle, there was no question of me giving up at any moment. This is a very great moment for me today, and it will be for him as soon as he is released," his lawyer Richard Sedillot told AFP. Atlaoui was arrested in 2005 at a factory in a Jakarta suburb where dozens of kilograms (pounds) of drugs were discovered and accused of being a "chemist" by the authorities. He has always denied being a drug trafficker, saying that he was installing machinery in what he thought was an acrylic factory. Initially sentenced to life in prison, his sentence was reviewed by 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. 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.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
Frenchman given conditional release after years on Indonesia death row
PARIS: A Frenchman who spent almost two decades on death row in Indonesia over drug offences before being returned to France has been granted conditional release, prosecutors said Tuesday. Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old welder from Metz, was flown back to France in February after being on death row in Indonesia since 2007. The father of four, currently incarcerated near Paris, had his sentence adapted by the French courts to 30 years' imprisonment. Atlaoui has been approved for conditional release on July 18, the prosecutor's office in Meaux said in a statement, adding that it is subject to follow-up obligations. "It has been a very long battle, there was no question of me giving up at any moment. This is a very great moment for me today, and it will be for him as soon as he is released," his lawyer Richard Sedillot told AFP. Atlaoui was arrested in 2005 at a factory in a Jakarta suburb where dozens of kilograms (pounds) of drugs were discovered and accused of being a "chemist" by the authorities. He has always denied being a drug trafficker, saying that he was installing machinery in what he thought was an acrylic factory. Initially sentenced to life in prison, his sentence was reviewed by 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. 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.
