This Tuesday, the Court of Cassation invalidated the detention in France of Christian Tein, an independence activist from New Caledonia. She orders that the decision be re-examined by a Court of Appeal but does not rule on his release.
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The case of independence leader Christian Tein – currently incarcerated in Mulhouse (south-east of the France), as well as that of Steve Unë, will be studied again by a Court of Appeal, the Court of Cassation announced this Tuesday. On the other hand, the courts did not rule on the release of the separatists.
In total, five people, all members of the Field Action Coordination Unit (CCAT), an organization accused by the government of being behind the riots which have ravaged New Caledonia since May, causing 13 deaths and estimated damage. worth more than two billion euros, had appealed to the Court of Cassation. The appeals of Dimitri Quenegei, Guillaume Vama and Erwan Waetheane were rejected.
They appealed to the Court of Cassation to challenge their detention in mainland France when they are suspected of having played a role in the unrest in New Caledonia. Their transfer at the end of June to mainland France was organized at night using a specially chartered plane. They were then incarcerated in different prisons in mainland France, where they are still found.
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During the hearing, the lawyer for the independence activists, Me Claire Waquet, pointed out a “ breach of confidentiality » due, in particular, to the possibility of recording videoconference interviews held between Christian Tein and Steve Unë and their lawyers before the hearing of the investigating chamber of the Nouméa Court of Appeal, at the beginning of July.
The five men are indicted in particular for complicity in attempted murder, organized gang theft with a weapon, organized gang destruction of the property of others by a means dangerous to people and participation in a criminal association with a view to the preparation of a crime. Christian Tein, their 56-year-old leader, has always denied having called for violence and says he is a “political prisoner”.