The case against aviation expert and criminologist Christopher Naudin will be heard on Tuesday, 8 March 2016, according to media reports. The French citizen was arrested in Egypt on 4 February and extradited to the DR last week. Naudin had spoken to the French media admitting his role in the smuggling of two pilots, Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos, who were convicted to 20 years in jail for transporting 680 kilos of cocaine in the case known as “Air Cocaine.” Despite the conviction, the pilots were under loose house arrest when they were smuggled out of the DR in October 2015. Naudin has admitted to helping to coordinate the escape by sea and reportedly as assisted by individuals linked to French and Dominican military and police. The postponement of the hearing was granted when Naudin appeared in court without an attorney on Saturday, 5 March. He was given time to appear with a lawyer and interpreter.
Naudin faces penalties of between two and 10 years’ incarceration for people smuggling. Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito said the Frenchman would be charged with people smuggling and criminal association.
Naudin is in detention at the Palace of Justice in Ciudad Nueva in Santo Domingo.
http://news.yahoo.com/air-cocaine-drug-case-delayed-dominican-republic-021312239.html
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/11/06/airc-n06.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-dominican-idUSKCN0W62IB
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/03/07/410599/frances-christophe-naudin-sigue-detenido-bajo-estricta-medida-de-seguridad
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/justicia/frances-naudin-podria-ser-condenado-hasta-a-10-anos-AA2929112
