Malaysia

Frenchman linked to kidnapping case, partner deported from M’sia

Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann, Leonie Bardet de Lestang and her 3 kids flown out after failing to secure letters from embassy to extend their stay

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 13 Jun 2021 12:19PM

Frenchman linked to kidnapping case, partner deported from M’sia
Frenchman Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann is wanted in his home country over allegations of influencing the kidnapping of an 8-year-old girl. – AFP pic, June 13, 2021

by Rachel Yeoh

GEORGE TOWN – After 14 days in in detention, Frenchman Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann, his live-in partner, Leonie Bardet de Lestang, and their three children have been deported this morning despite their appeals.

Sources told The Vibes that they have been blacklisted and will not be permitted to re-enter Malaysia.

Daillet-Wiedemann’s business partner, Amor Adjal, said he was told by the Belantik immigration detention centre in Sik, Kedah, last week that the couple and their children would be deported today. 

However, their lawyers said an appeal has been made on the deportation order.

Leonie Bardet de Lestang and their three children were being held at an immigration detention centre in Sik, Kedah. – File pic, June 13, 2021
Leonie Bardet de Lestang and their three children were being held at an immigration detention centre in Sik, Kedah. – File pic, June 13, 2021

An international arrest warrant was issued on April 21, last year for Daillet-Wiedemann over allegations of influencing the kidnapping of an 8-year-old girl in France. He was accused of orchestrating it from the comfort of his home in Langkawi, Kedah.

Meanwhile, their travel visas expired on May 21 after the French embassy denied the couple supporting letters to extend their stay. They were arrested for overstaying on May 30.

They are currently in transit in Singapore.

Leonie Bardet, who is six months’ pregnant, has three children under her care, aged 17, 9 and 2. 

An international arrest warrant was issued by a French magistrate and Interpol was called in to liaise with the Malaysian police on his arrest.

After a month-long investigation, Interpol and the Malaysian police arrested the couple at their condominium in Laguna, Langkawi.

Daillet-Wiedemann, a former French politician, has been described by French media as a far-right conspiracist, who subscribes to the QAnon movement.

He is also alleged to have committed sedition by encouraging the French working class to overthrow the present duly-elected government there.

Meanwhile, Amor is worried about Bardet’s condition as he believes she has nothing to do with Daillet-Wiedemann’s case and does not subscribe to his religious and political views.

“It is sad that the powers behind this are heartless, making a woman experiencing high-risk pregnancy fly even though she had a letter from her doctor.

“I spoke with her gynaecologist in Penang, and he said that he had sent a letter to the French embassy stating that Bardet cannot fly or risk a miscarriage.

“When I asked him to send a copy of the same letter to me, he said I should be careful and referred me to the French embassy to get the letter instead.”

Efforts to contact the Kedah immigration office were unsuccessful. – The Vibes, June 13, 2021

Additional reporting by Ian McIntyre

Related News

Opinion / 1w

Thank you, Dr Siti Hasmah, for everything; You will be greatly missed

Malaysia / 3mth

Langkawi sea ambulance to start operating early next year

Opinion / 4mth

Langkawi: An untapped island with much greater potential?

Malaysia / 4mth

Najib’s son joins protestors against high-rise development in Langkawi

Malaysia / 4mth

Three South Koreans plead not guilty to kidnapping, demanding USDT10 million ransom

Malaysia / 5mth

CAAM confirms DA-40 plane incident in Langkawi

Spotlight

Malaysia

Man kidnapped, tortured, and killed following misunderstanding

Malaysia

'I will never forget taxi drivers who backed me in my hardest times' - PM Anwar

Malaysia

Najib fails to secure stay of 15-year jail term, RM11.38b fine in 1MDB case

Malaysia

Ivana Smit’s mother considers Federal Court appeal after RM1.1m award overturned

Education

Schools in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka to reopen tomorrow as haze conditions improve

Malaysia

Zara Qairina inquest: Investigating officer says final findings showed no suspicious circumstances

Malaysia

Man jailed 8½ years for abusing three-year-old boy, forcing the child to eat faeces

World

Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer after successful surgery

Malaysia

More than 3,000 Myanmar refugees set for repatriation after Malaysia secures breakthrough

You may be interested

Malaysia

Govt challenges US excess-capacity concerns as 100% chip tariff threat looms

Malaysia

'I will never forget taxi drivers who backed me in my hardest times' - PM Anwar

Malaysia

No official reports of Malaysian firms linked to Indonesia’s open burning

Malaysia

Muslim man, mother detained for allegedly performing non-Islamic religious ritual

Malaysia

Teacher denies negligence charges over fatal school SUV crash in Kota Bharu

Malaysia

Will exempting MSMEs from the minimum wage requirement widen inequality?

Malaysia

Jelebu chieftain’s installation takes place at Istana Besar Seri Menanti today

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

NUTP urges faster school closure notices as haze disrupts plans