French court to decide about
Noriega's detention
By Pierre-Antione Souchard
PARIS (AP) - A French court will hear an
appeal by former Panamanian dictator Manuel
Noriega to be released from preventive
detention, lawyers and a judge said
Wednesday.
Noriega has been held at La Sante prison in
southern Paris since April 27 following his
extradition from the United States to face
charges of laundering drug money.
French authorities say Noriega had laundered
some $3 million in drug proceeds by buying
luxury apartments in Paris. The 72-year-old
Noriega could face 10 years in prison if
convicted in France.
Noriega's lawyers and a French judge,
speaking on condition of anonymity because
they are not authorized to speak to media,
said the appeal will be heard on Friday.
The lawyers and the judge also said the
dates for Noriega's trial on the money
laundering charges have been set in a Paris
court for June 8th, 29th and 30th.
Noriega is being held as a civilian after
France declined to recognize his insistence
that he be treated as a prisoner of war. The
United States had considered Noriega a
prisoner of war, but French authorities have
said he does not qualify for that status
here.
A U.S. judge had granted Noriega POW status
in Miami, where he had been jailed since the
U.S. invaded Panama to remove him in 1989.
His French lawyers claim the status cannot
be rescinded. |
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