Among the the suspects interrogated on Saturday we find a young blond whose job was to lure victims to the kidnappers, and whose statements led to the successful arrest of most of the gang. The 'brains' of the gang is still on the loose.
The 3 first suspects in the kidnapping and torture of Ilan Halimi 23, were interrogated on Saturday by the judge Corinne Goetzmann. Among them Audrey Lorleach, 24, who was used as bait, and whose computer generated photo had been publicised in the press. "This girl has a lot of courage to have come forward because she was horrified by what has happenned" explained her lawyer Jean Balan, explaining that his client had been dragged into this affair due to her "love for one of the gang members", who has since been captured.
Her newspaper likeness was recognised by one of her friends and then went to the police in Montrouge. It was upon significant information that she gave to the investigators than evening that allowed them to trap 10 suspects from Thursday night to Friday morning. Most of these came from the suburb of Tertre de Bagneux. During her stay at the criminal station, she admitted having lured young men, insisting that she did not know what was going to happen to them.
THE LURE, THE KIDNAPPERS, THE PRISONERS AND THE NEGOCIATORS
The young woman had unsucessfully tried two times, and having been unsuccsessful had been put on the sidelines by the group, claimed the state prosecutor, Jean)-Claude Marin.
Her friend who recognised her from the photo was also interrogated for not reporting the crime. The third person questioned was suspected of serving as the intermediary in case of payment of ransom. He is an african money lender/ pawn shop owner.
In all, 15 people, from 17 to 32 years old have been arrested in this affair, all suspected of having some role in the kidnapping and murder of Ilan Halimi. Fourteen of these in France, and one in Belgium, where the ransom for Ilan was at one point supposed to be delivered.
Of these 15, 8 still remain in custody, and 3 have been released.
According to the police, this group has already attempted 6 previous kidnappings, and share the jobs of lure (mostly the girls), the kidnappers, and the jailers and the negociators who by using cell phones connected to the internet managed to communicate with the family of Ilan and muddled up the affair. The police are still searching for the supposed head of the gang: 26 year old who is nick-named the "brain of the barbarians" who has so far eluded their net.
Investigators are hoping that the widely diffused photo will allow them to trap him. They are likewise searching for his 'right-hand man' and the seductive woman of magreb descent,who lured Ilan into the lethal ambush.
Many thanks for that Sarah.