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Pardon for two French women jailed on drugs charges
posted on: Jan 11 2010 9:34 by The Reporter. Viewed 1858 times.
Christmas brought good tidings to two young French women who had been jailed in the Dominican Republic for trafficking cocaine.
The two women, Cline Faye (20) and Sarah Zaknoun (19), were officially pardoned by President Leonel Fernandez after pressure from President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
Both received a Christmas pardon after being caught with six kilograms of cocaine in their luggage.
Its thanks to her that we are here, said Faye, referring to Ms Bruni-Sarkozy soon after being released from her cell after serving just 18 months of an eight-year sentence.
Faye and Zaknoun, were caught trying to smuggle the drugs, which had a street value of around US$250,000, onto a flight from the Dominican Republic to Paris in June 2008.
Both have always insisted that they were innocent and that a mystery third party had planted the cocaine in their luggage without them knowing, prompting Ms Bruni-Sarkozy to take up their case.
Welcoming Mr Fernandezs decision to grant the pardon, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was a humanitarian gesture.
He said the womens one-week holiday in the Dominican Republic had turned their lives into a nightmare.
He also made it clear that they will not face further charges when they get back to France.
French development minister Alain Joyandet said: This nice Christmas tale must not make us forget that drug traffickers continue to destroy lives and abuse the naivete of our youngsters.
Ex-model and singer-songwriter, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who has been a favourite with French glossy magazines, has publicly said she has no interest in politics.
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