Two French pilots have fled the Caribbean and managed to return to France despite being under judicial supervision for their alleged role in drug smuggling.
In a case widely dubbed as “Air Cocaine”, four Frenchmen were given prison sentences in the Dominican Republic.
Pilot Pascal Fauret and co-pilot Bruno Odos were arrested in March 2013 at an airport as they prepared to take off for Saint Tropez in a Falcon 50 jet. On board were 26 suitcases allegedly containing 680kg of cocaine.
Each received terms of 20 years in Santo Domingo in August this year although they remained free to move around, however, pending their appeal.
But it has emerged that the duo are now back in France “not to flee justice but to seek justice”, according to their lawyer Jean Reinhard.
"They are not escapees, because they were not in prison," he added, explaining that they were at liberty, though not authorised to leave the Dominican Republic, pending a judicial appeal.
It seems they left the Dominican Republic in a boat provided by “friends” which took them to the part French and part Dutch island of Saint Martin, according to French TV BFM.
They then flew to the French island of Martinique and on to mainland France aboard a commercial flight and with their own passports.
The identities of those who made the escape possible are not known, but rumours have it intelligence officers could be involved. The French government has insisted that it played no part in the escape.
Two other Frenchmen allegedly involved remain in the Dominican Republic. All four proclaim their innocence.
Four Dominican nationals were given sentences of between five and ten years in connection with the case.
