France arrests 2 pilots who fled C’bean over drug term
PARIS (AP) — Two French pilots who escaped the Dominican Republic to avoid 20-year prison terms for cocaine trafficking have been arrested at their homes before being taken to a judge.
Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos fled the Dominican Republic October 27 despite a court order to remain in the country pending appeal. They have denied wrongdoing, saying they did not know the private plane they had been hired to fly carried 26 suitcases of cocaine.
Read: France won’t extradite pilots who fled Dom Rep
Eric Dupond-Moretti, lawyer for Fauret, criticized how the arrests Monday were handled.
Another twist emerged Monday when a lawyer for former Nicolas Sarkozy demanded clarification about reports that the judge in the French drug investigation requested the ex-president’s cell phone data. Sarkozy, who is not linked to the trafficking, flew with the private charter company in 2013.
