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| French pilots flee cocaine conviction in Dominican Republic | French pilots flee cocaine conviction in Dominican Republic |
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| Two French pilots who were sentenced by a court in the Dominican Republic to 20 years in prison for cocaine trafficking have fled the country. | Two French pilots who were sentenced by a court in the Dominican Republic to 20 years in prison for cocaine trafficking have fled the country. |
| The escape from judicial supervision by Pascal Jean Fauret and Bruno Odos, confirmed by their lawyer and a French official, puts them in an unusual legal position. | The escape from judicial supervision by Pascal Jean Fauret and Bruno Odos, confirmed by their lawyer and a French official, puts them in an unusual legal position. |
| The two, who had insisted on their innocence since their arrest in 2013, were barred from leaving the Caribbean island pending an appeal of the conviction. | The two, who had insisted on their innocence since their arrest in 2013, were barred from leaving the Caribbean island pending an appeal of the conviction. |
| Their lawyer, Jean Reinhart, said on Europe-1 radio on Tuesday that the two were in France and at the “disposition” of French justice in the hope of clearing their names. He did not give details about how they escaped. | Their lawyer, Jean Reinhart, said on Europe-1 radio on Tuesday that the two were in France and at the “disposition” of French justice in the hope of clearing their names. He did not give details about how they escaped. |
| BFM television said the pair left on a purported tourist cruise, then transferred to a larger boat with the help of a French politician, former naval officers and former intelligence agents – all “friends” of the pilots from their service in the French navy. | |
| The two were then taken to the French Antilles, where they boarded a commercial flight for Paris, BFM reported. Their lawyer said the pair travelled under their real names. | The two were then taken to the French Antilles, where they boarded a commercial flight for Paris, BFM reported. Their lawyer said the pair travelled under their real names. |
| An official with the French foreign ministry said the government had nothing to do with their escape from justice. The official was not authorised to be publicly named, according to ministry policy. | An official with the French foreign ministry said the government had nothing to do with their escape from justice. The official was not authorised to be publicly named, according to ministry policy. |
| The pilots were among eight people convicted for involvement in a 700kg (1,500lb) shipment of cocaine in 2013. The pilots said they did not know the plane was carrying 26 suitcases of the drug. The arrests came after a lengthy investigation into a drug-trafficking ring. | The pilots were among eight people convicted for involvement in a 700kg (1,500lb) shipment of cocaine in 2013. The pilots said they did not know the plane was carrying 26 suitcases of the drug. The arrests came after a lengthy investigation into a drug-trafficking ring. |
| “It is not true justice,” Reinhart said. “When you have an order that is illegal, you have to not respect it.” He said the pilots were suffering from respiratory and dental problems but were “happy to be in their country” with their families. | “It is not true justice,” Reinhart said. “When you have an order that is illegal, you have to not respect it.” He said the pilots were suffering from respiratory and dental problems but were “happy to be in their country” with their families. |