Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old French man, has returned to France after enduring nearly two decades in Indonesian prisons. Arrested in 2005 at a Jakarta factory where authorities discovered large quantities of drugs, Atlaoui was accused of being a "chemist" involved in drug trafficking. Although he has consistently denied these allegations, his life took a dramatic turn when an Indonesian court initially sentenced him to life in prison, a verdict later escalated to a death sentence.
In 2015, Atlaoui faced imminent execution. However, intense diplomatic pressure from the French government resulted in a stay of execution. This intervention bought him time, ultimately leading to an agreement for his extradition to France on January 24, on humanitarian grounds due to his battle with cancer. He has been receiving weekly medical treatment at an Indonesian hospital.
Atlaoui's return to France does not mark the end of his legal battles. Upon arrival, he will be presented to French prosecutors and likely detained as they determine his future sentencing. His legal representative, Richard Sedillot, is advocating for a sentence adjustment that could facilitate Atlaoui's release, noting that similar offenses in France carry a maximum penalty of 30 years.
Despite his prolonged ordeal, Atlaoui's thoughts remain with his family. A welder from Metz in north-eastern France, he has a wife and four children who await his return. However, he has requested not to meet them at the airport upon his return, preferring to reunite with them under more hopeful circumstances.
"He wants to see his family again when he is free," – Sabine Atlaoui
Atlaoui's story is one of survival against overwhelming odds. His wife, Sabine Atlaoui, poignantly highlighted the resilience he demonstrated throughout his ordeal:
"He survived 19 years of incarceration. He survived an execution." – Sabine Atlaoui
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