Posted on 03/02/2006 2:17:12 PM PST by csvset
A court in the Ivory Coast has approved the extradition of the suspected leader of a gang accused of seizing, torturing and killing a young Jew in France.
A Justice Ministry spokesman said Youssef Fofana, a 25-year-old French national, could be returned to Paris as early as Friday.
France requested his extradition in connection with the killing of Ilan Halimi, 23, in Paris on 13 February.
The case shocked France and triggered demonstrations over anti-Semitism.
Mr Fofana has allegedly said Mr Halimi was abducted because he was a Jew and therefore presumed to be rich.
Mr Halimi was found bound and naked with horrific injuries, three weeks after he was seized.
Last Sunday, tens of thousands of people marched through Paris to protest against racism and anti-Semitism.
Ivorian Justice Ministry spokesman Ali Yeo said all that remained was for the president to approve the extradition.
"We shall carry out all the procedures to ensure that that is done first thing tomorrow," he said.
A convicted petty criminal, Mr Fofana has allegedly admitted the kidnap, but denied murder.
He is believed to have left France soon after Mr Halimi was found. He was arrested in Abidjan on 23 February.
Does France have the death penalty?
I'm not sure which is worse, time in a French prison or death.
I don't think that money was part of this horrid crime. It was never wnetioned in the earlier news reports. No ransom was discussed. Halimi was a Jew, and this muslim beast killed him for religous reasons. Funny - there is no mention of Islam or Muslim in this article
Of course not, but you figure that the source is the BBC, intended for a Euro audience. They can't say that the killers are Islamo-Wackos.
"Does France have the death penalty?"
Certainly not, they are so civilized, doncha know?
However, good for the Ivory Coast for deporting this vicious pig. More than Mexico would do for us, and more than Israel did for us if anyone remembers that case where the kid was killed in Maryland. Hey, and more than France did for us in the Ira Einhorn case, but he might have eventually been extradited, but maybe not, I'm not sure.
Sorry, I meant extraditing, not deporting.
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