Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92000E1595

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1595/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council. Pre-trial detention.** 
  
*Official Journal 081 E , 13/03/2001 P. 0057 - 0058*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1595/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council

(24 May 2000)

Subject: Pre-trial detention

On 6 July 1997 Jean-Jacques Pitalugue, Gilles Benhayoun, Jean-Luc Della Justina and Maxime Briat were arrested for having produced colour photocopies of banknotes to a value of FF 20 800, some of which were put into circulation (to a value of FF 3 500) despite their poor quality.

The men were arrested and charged and are currently being detained at Fresnes remand prison under a detention order of limited duration dated 6 July 1997 and an order of 30 June 1998 extending their pre-trial detention as from 6 July 1998, renewed again on 4 January 1999 as from 6 January 1999.

On 6 January 2000 all four accused were committed for trial at the Assize Court in the department of Loiret on charges of forgery or counterfeiting of banknotes that are legal tender in France, by order of the Orleans Indictments Division, although they were discharged on the count of conspiracy. The four accused are now in their thirty-fifth month of pre-trial detention.

Does the Council not consider that the criteria generally applied as regards the length of pre-trial detention have not in fact been complied with in this case? If this is so, does it not consider that it should intervene, within the framework of its new powers in the area of justice under the Amsterdam Treaty, to secure compliance with reasonable periods for pre-trial detention and judgments or, failing that, the release of defendants under Article 5(3) of the European Human Rights Convention?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The questions raised by the Honourable Member of Parliament are not within the Council's competence.

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