Latest news with #prisonrelease


Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Lebanese radical released after 40 years in French jail
Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was welcomed by family members as he disembarked in Beirut today. (AFP pic) LANNEMEZAN : One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese radical Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 74, was released from prison and deported today, after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. At around 3.40am, a convoy of six vehicles left the Lannemezan penitentiary with lights flashing, AFP journalists saw. Hours later, he was placed on a plane bound for Lebanon. As he disembarked in Beirut, he was welcomed by family members at the airport's VIP lounge. Dozens of supporters, some waving Palestinian or Lebanese Communist Party flags gathered near the arrivals hall to give him a hero's reception, an AFP correspondent said. Abdallah's family had said previously they would take him to their hometown of Kobayat, in northern Lebanon, where a reception is planned. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. 'Past symbol' The Paris Court of Appeal had ordered his release 'effective July 25' on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. While he had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied with the US – a civil party to the case – consistently opposing him leaving prison. Inmates serving life sentences in France are typically freed after fewer than 30 years. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited for a final time yesterday. 'He seemed very happy about his upcoming release, even though he knows he is returning to the Middle East in an extremely tough context for Lebanese and Palestinian populations,' Chalanset told AFP. AFP visited Abdallah last week after the court's release decision, accompanying a lawmaker to the detention centre. The founder of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) – a long-disbanded Marxist anti-Israel group – said for more than four decades he had continued to be a rebel 'with a struggle'. After his arrest in 1984, French police discovered submachine guns and transceiver stations in one of his Paris apartments. The appeals court in February noted that the FARL 'had not committed a violent action since 1984' and that Abdallah 'today represented a past symbol of the Palestinian struggle'. The appeals judges also found the length of his detention 'disproportionate' to the crimes and given his age.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Todd Chrisley Thought About 'Going Back' to Prison Upon Seeing Wife Julie's Natural Brunette Hair
The married couple were indicted in 2019 for fraud and conspiracy, but were released from prison in early May under a pardon from President Donald Trump Todd Chrisley is sharing new details about his reunion with wife Julie after their release from prison. In a July 23 episode of the Chrisley Confessions 2.0 podcast, the couple sat down together to talk about their return home following their early releases from prison in May, which were made possible under a pardon from President Donald Trump. The pair, who were indicted on 12 counts of bank and wire fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy in 2019 and went to prison in January 2023, opened up about Julie, 52, being photographed in Nashville with her brunette hair and graying roots after life behind bars. "Was there a horrible picture that came out of me? Yeah. The way I flip that is, look at me now. People think I look even better because that horrible picture was out there to begin with," said Julie. "Listen, I will say, you set the bar low. You had to go nowhere but up," responded Todd, whose comment did not please his wife of almost 30 years. "That wasn't very nice," remarked Julie, but Todd, 56, doubled down on his statement. "I'm just trying to be honest. I'm not gonna lie, I first saw you, when I got out of that car, I started thinking about going back [to prison]. But then I thought, let me embrace this." He defended his statement further. "I mean it was a rough moment. It was a rough moment because I'd never seen you dark in my life. Julie, 30 years, I've never seen you with dark hair." Julie explained that she "didn't have any choice" but to embrace her natural hair color because of her lack of access to a salon. Although, she managed to make things work for a little while. "When I went to prison, my hair was blonde but it had a lot of I self-surrendered," she explained. "Then, we actually had a girl that was there at the prison when I got worked in the salon and she was really good and she did highlights for me. When I tell you they looked so good, it looked like I'd been to a salon on the outside." But then when her friend was released, Julie was left to her own devices and managed to get by with box dye purchased from the commissary. "I did that for probably a year and a half or so," she continued. According to her, she didn't have much time left away from home anyway so she thought, "You know what? I'm not going color my hair anymore. I'm just going to let it grow." "So even these chicks in prison acknowledged you need to do something with that," joked Todd. Prior to her time in jail, Julie was known for her platinum blonde locks and a day after her release, her son Chase Chrisley told Entertainment Tonight that she had no plans on hitting the bleach again. However, despite her claims. Julie eventually did return to the hair she was known for. On June 8, she was seen with her blonde hair freshened up at a Target, where fans took photos with her. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Later that month, Chase spoke to PEOPLE about always knowing his mom would eventually go back to her signature look. "I knew she wasn't going to keep it the same," he said while discussing his new alcohol-free sparkling water Gold Drop, out July 1, then revealing the joke his dad made about Julie's natural hair. "He said, 'This would be the first time in my life I've ever been with a brunette.'" Read the original article on People


LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Georges Ibrahim Abdallah released from French prison after over 40 years
Lebanese national Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, one of the longest-serving inmates in France, was released from prison early Friday, according to a source familiar with the case cited by AFP. Abdallah, now in his 70s, spent more than four decades behind bars after being convicted in the 1980s for complicity in the assassinations of an Israeli and an American diplomat. AFP journalists reported seeing a convoy of several vehicles leaving the prison at around 3:40 a.m. local time (1:40 GMT). Following a court ruling ordering his release, Abdallah is set to be deported to Lebanon later Friday.


BBC News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term
Convicted drug smuggler Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has returned to football after being released from ex-Arsenal and Ipswich Town striker had served more than 10 months of a four-year sentence behind bars, having been jailed in June for masterminding the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis at London Stansted Airport. Fans on social media accused Hampshire side AFC Totton of a "severe lack of class" after signing him on club was contacted for comment, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas was subject to "strict" license conditions. The £600,000 haul of cannabis imported to the UK from Thailand was spread across four suitcases, and 60kg (132lb) of the Class B drug was seized at Stansted on 2 footballer spent more than 10 months in prison, of which about eight and a half were on remand ahead of his was released from prison with "strict conditions", the MoJ told the BBC, including an electronically monitored curfew. Eligible prisoners have been allowed to leave prison after serving 40% of their term, under rules introduced by the Labour made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday, playing 45 his signing before the match, the National League South club said it was "delighted" to have him on board."Jay will bring his powerful presence and exceptional technical ability to The Snows Stadium," it said in a it happened: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas jailed for four yearsThe club referenced Emmanuel-Thomas' "experience" of playing in Thailand, where he met the drug producers behind his smuggling user on X said "signing a criminal is absolutely diabolical", while another suggested it showed a "severe lack of class".But others said it was a "good signing" and that Emmanuel-Thomas was a "phenomenal player". In a post-match interview on AFC Totton's X account, manager Jimmy Ball praised Emmanuel-Thomas as "a nice kid"."We had a phone call earlier in the week and, remembering Jay as a kid, he was an exceptional talent," Ball said."He's still got the hunger, he's still got the desire. He's a real physical presence with real good technical ability as well. "[He is a] nice kid and we're excited to have him here."Emmanuel-Thomas was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after he was arrested in also played for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons and Gillingham, as well as Thai-based team PTT Rayong and England at youth him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Alexander Mills said he was the "professional footballer who threw it all away"."It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer; you will be known as a criminal," he added. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.


CTV News
23-07-2025
- CTV News
Erik Menendez is in hospital for a medical condition. His attorney seeks his release
This combination of two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Department of Corrections via AP, File) LOS ANGELES — An attorney is seeking Erik Menendez's release from prison because of a medical condition after he was taken to a hospital. The 57-year-old has been serving a life without parole sentence along with his brother Lyle Menendez after being convicted of murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills, California, home in 1989. A judge recently resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. They will appear in front of the state parole board Aug. 21 and 22. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed Erik Menendez was taken to an outside medical facility Friday and remained there Tuesday 'in fair condition.' His lawyer, Mark Geragos, told TMZ that Menendez was having a 'serious medical condition' and should receive a prison furlough, something the governor granted some inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Geragos did not elaborate on the condition, but he said releasing Menendez was the 'only fair and equitable thing to do' so he had time to prepare for his parole hearing properly. Geragos' office confirmed his comments to TMZ but did not make him available for an interview. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office and a representative for the family declined to comment. A judge last week ordered Los Angeles prosecutors to explain why Erik and Lyle Menendez's murder convictions should not be reexamined in light of new evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse by their father. While defense attorneys at the time argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The order was in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by the Menendez brothers in May 2023 seeking a review of their convictions in a process separate from their resentencing bid. Jaimie Ding, The Associated Press