Michael Blanc waited in France after 19 years in Indonesia for drug trafficking

Frenchman Michaël Blanc is expected Sunday in France after spending nearly half of his life on a case of hashish trafficking in Indonesia, giant of Southeast Asia to the most restrictive anti-drug laws in

After 19 years in prison or under judicial control in this country popular with tourists, Michael Blanc arrived Saturday at Soekarno-Hatta airport in Jakarta escorted by immigration officials. He then flew on a Turkish Airlines flight, accompanied by his mother, Hélène Le Touzey, who worked tirelessly for his release.

While an airport source had reported an arrival Sunday to 11H00 (0900 GMT) at Paris Roissy airport, a source close to the family said Sunday morning that they would land in Geneva at 10:35.

Arrested in December 1999 at the airport of the enchanting island of Bali Michael White saw his life suddenly change. The 26-year-old cook from Haute-Savoie, eastern France, was arrested with 3.8 kilograms of hashish hidden in diving bottles. He argues in vain that a friend had entrusted him to transport them.

Sentenced to life imprisonment, he received a partial pardon in 2009 and his sentence was commuted to 20 years in prison. After obtaining a conditional release, he was released from prison in 2014 but under judicial control with the prohibition to leave Indonesia before July 21.

Today, 45 years old, the Frenchman was expelled from the country as planned Indonesian legislation for all foreigners once they have served their sentence

The heavy sentence in one of the most repressive countries in the world against drug trafficking was strongly criticized in France. The mediatization of his situation triggered a major mobilization in France, with petitions signed by personalities and many anonymous.

But it is his mother, who gave up everything – job, family, country – from 2000 to come to his aid, that Michael White owes his salvation. Hélène Le Touzey was very involved, first to obtain a reduction of sentence, and then to release him.

"If I had not been there, he would not be here anymore, for a moment he had asked me to leave so that I could end his life and he told me that I would never be able to get his release. ", she had told his son's release in 2014.

" Midnight Express "

From the beginning of the case, the French TV host Thierry Ardisson had defended the detainee during his broadcasts, going so far as to organize a "Michaëlthon" – auction of celebrity objects – to finance his support committee.

Looking forward to meeting Mr. Blanc on his return to France, Mr. Ardisson declared to AFP that it was a "modern hero at the + Midnight Express +", a reference to Alan Parker's film about an American detained in Turkey for drug trafficking.

The host said that he was going to invite M. Blanc on his show, which will resume in September on the channel C8.

The family of the French he is delighted to see him finally come back to the country: "We are extremely happy to know it today free of all judicial control, we are waiting for it with a lot of emotions," declared Alfredo Descalzi, Michael Blanco's uncle and secretary from his support badociation, CNews

"It's been a month since he's in France in his mind. He wished with great force to return to his country, "he added.

At a time when more and more legislation around the world allows the sale and consumption of cannabis, two other French are serving long sentences for drug trafficking in Indonesia: Gérard Debetz, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2011, and Serge Atlaoui who was sentenced to death in 2007.

And dozens of others convicted of The death penalty for drug trafficking, including many foreigners, are on death row, but there has been no execution for two years.

22/07/2018 11:49:08 –
Paris (AFP) –
© 2018 AFP