Bruno Odos, one of the two French pilots who fled from the Dominican Republic after having been convicted of drug trafficking, has appeared in front of the French judge in charge of the investigation of what is known in France as the “Air Cocaine” case.
Having been free for nine days, 56-year old Odos found himself back in jail, this time in France on the night of Monday 2 November 2015.
According to his lawyer, Jean Reinhart, the questions posed by Judge Christine Saunier-Ruellan, were very general and she will decide if he can remain free or if he will stay in detention during the investigation. The other pilot, 55 year old Pascal Fauret will be interviewed today, Wednesday 4 November.
Both are the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by a Dominican court. However, it is unlikely that Odos and Fauret will face the Dominican judiciary again, since France does not extradite its citizens.
On the other hand, a definitive guilty judgment against Odos and Fauret in the Dominican Republic and the handing down of a prison term could be a problem for the French justice system, as no one can be tried twice for the same crime. Thus far, the possibility of double jeopardy has not prevented France from continuing the investigation.
And French justice has expressed suspicion about the pilots and several other flights made by the same plane. The judge has reviewed the testimony of a number of witnesses, including a customs officer who inspected the same plane in December 2012 when it arrived from Puerto Plata and voiced his concerns about its cargo.
Read more:
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/justicia/uno-de-los-pilotos-fugados-comparece-ante-jueza-francesa-sarkozy-protesta-por-geolocalizacion-de-celular-DH1768140
http://retour-pascal-bruno.com/en/press/air-cocaine-the-france-of-the-rich-open-borders-3/
http://www.librairie-sciencespo.fr/vie-politique-francaise/actualite-politique-et-biographies/livre/l-affaire-air-cocaine—mafia-et-jets-prives/marc–leplongeon–jerome–pierrat/9782021288728.html