GEORGE TOWN – A lawyer for wanted Frenchman Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann has called on Putrajaya to release his client’s pregnant companion, Leonie Bardet, and her three children from the Belantik immigration detention centre in Sik, Kedah.
Jean-Christophe Basson-Larbi, of Avocat au Barreau de Paris, urged Malaysian authorities to show leniency and compassion despite Daillet-Wiedemann’s infamy as being “the most wanted man” in France due to his far-right ideologies and alleged involvement in the kidnapping of an 8-year-old girl.
His sentiment echoes that of Ajdal Amor, a friend of both Daillet-Wiedemann and Bardet, who said Bardet is not only six months pregnant, but also has children aged 17, 9 and 2 to care for.
The fate of the pair and the three kids remains uncertain, with both Malaysian and French authorities tight-lipped on the matter.
However, a diplomatic source told The Vibes that the plan is to deport them back to France on the grounds that they had overstayed in Malaysia.
Basson-Larbi said there is an attempt by French authorities to manipulate their Malaysian counterparts by using this reason – overstaying – and the absence of a visa to force Daillet-Wiedemann’s return to his home country.
“Daillet-Wiedemann is a political opponent in France, and France wants him back by any means to allegedly be interrogated by a judge in the kidnapping case involving 8-year-old Mia.
“Since extradition is not possible, the French embassy has decided to use overstaying (due to the Covid-19 lockdown) to unlawfully refuse granting the family a letter of support in order to get a visa extension from Malaysian immigration.
“When the Malaysian government decided that all foreigners in the country had to refile their documents to have their visas extended or leave the country on April 21, the French embassy used this means to refuse Bardet and Daillet-Wiedemann letters of support.
“Bardet and her family filled out the form for a visa extension. Every document was there except for the letter of support. They emailed the French embassy for it, but there was no reply.
“They called, no reply. They emailed again, and the embassy said, wait, we will revert to you as soon as possible. On May 19, there was a one-line email from the French embassy, saying it will not give any letter of support.
“Malaysia has been used by France. This diplomatic interference is not normal, and it is disrespectful to Malaysia’s sovereignty.
“Now, nobody in Daillet-Wiedemann’s defence has access to the official documents, except the embassy.
There are no charges from the public prosecutor against Daillet-Wiedemann and his family. No charges. They are a peaceful expatriate family living in a nightmare.
“Since there were no charges, the case was passed from police to the Immigration Department.
“The French embassy has hinted that my clients will be deported to France in a few days. The reality is that if Malaysian rules and regulations are respected, they won’t go back to France in a few days, because we have appealed against the deportation order.
“The lawyers in Malaysia are working to have the pregnant mother of three stay and give birth in Malaysia.”
Daillet-Wiedemann was dragged into the Mia court case on April 21 despite being in Malaysia as his name was mentioned during the proceedings, he said.
“A lot of lies have been broadcast by the press. I see articles claiming that he is a fugitive, but he is not. They call him a guru, but he is not.
“Everybody knows he is in Malaysia, with a website, companies, and a public life for the past six years. When Malaysian police knocked on his door, they found him with his family. He was not in hiding.
I didn’t expect this from France, a country that represents and prides itself on human rights. What we see here is unbearable international manipulation.
“This is shameful. I am going to say it to you, to the international press, to non-governmental organisations, to the United Nations – I am going to shout it out.”
Daillet-Wiedemann can be deported, but Basson-Larbi hopes Malaysia will allow the Frenchman, Bardet and her children to stay until the baby is born due to the risks involved in having a heavily pregnant woman take a flight. – The Vibes, June 12, 2021
Basson-Larbi’s views as a lawyer for Bardet and Daillet-Wiedemann are his own, and do not necessarily resonate with the other counsel representing the couple
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