What if the Sébastien Raoult affair rebounds in the United States? This student from Epinal suspected in a case of cybercrime against American companies in particular, has been detained in Morocco since June. But the Court of Cassation of this country pronounced in July a “favorable opinion” to his extradition to the United States, according to an official document consulted Monday by AFP.
Through this decision, the highest court in the country did not order the extradition of the 21-year-old Frenchman, imprisoned for two months in Morocco, but said it was in favor. Extradition itself can only be decided “by the Prime Minister on the proposal of a commission also bringing together the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice”, the same source added.
“Sacrificed by France”
To justify its decision, the Court of Cassation indicates that the request for extradition was presented by the United States “within the period provided for by law”, accompanied by all the necessary documents (arrest warrant, summary of the facts and information on the identity of the suspect).
In addition, it specifies that the “crimes” for which it is claimed by the Americans “have their equivalents in the Moroccan Penal Code” and adds that “the extradition request meets all the conditions required by law”.
Sébastien Raoult’s French lawyer, Philippe Ohayon, reacted by reiterating his request for the opening of a judicial inquiry in France, accompanied by a French arrest warrant to obtain the extradition of his client to France.
“We believe that Sébastien Raoult was not simply abandoned by France, but that he was sacrificed, in view of the Franco-American police operation of May 31 with the arrest in France of five other people in this file”, the same day as the arrest of his client in Morocco.