“His release finalizes mine”: Florence Cassez “relieved” by the acquittal of her ex-companion in Mexico

• A Mexican judge acquitted Israel Vallarta on Thursday, a Mexican imprisoned without judgment for almost 20 years after being arrested with Florence Cassez, her partner at the time.
• The latter said this Saturday being “very relieved” by the release of her ex-companion.
• The Frenchman was released in 2013.

– "his release finalizes mine": florence

In the next day of the acquittal in Mexico of his ex-companion. Therefore, 20 years after their arrest in the country for kidnapping, Florence Cassez said this Saturday, August 2, with AFP, “Very relieved by the liberation of Israel [Vallarta]which finalizes mine “. Furthermore, Israel Vallarta was acquitted Thursday evening and “his release finalizes mine”: florence released on Friday in Mexico, after almost 20 years’ imprisonment without judgment.

“I thank the president of Mexico for her support”

“The decision of Mexican justice grows this country that I like”added the Frenchwoman. Similarly, arrested in 2005 and released in 2013 after providing proof that there had been procedural vices in this case, which had provoked a serious diplomatic crisis between Mexico and Paris. Similarly, “I thank the president of Mexico for her support. Furthermore, the words she had for us, the victims of injustice”she added.

For Florence Cassez. However, now 50 years old, “These next few days are now those of Israel, it is now up to him to express themselves rather than me. Similarly, He is free from his words”. She said she wishes her former companion. as well as her wife with whom she is still in “his release finalizes mine”: florence contact, “To enjoy the life that is now available to them”.

Florence Cassez. who now lives in the Dunkirk (North) region, told AFP that she did not want to express himself more on the subject in the media. “I’m still in shock”simply recognized Israel Vallarta by leaving the Federal Prison of Almoloya. in the central state of Mexico City, after kissing his family.

A qualified arrest of “television editing”

During a press conference on Friday. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum qualified the arrest of Israel Vallarta and Florence Cassez, broadcast live at the time, of “TV montage”. “We cannot forget how the arrest went”added the state chief. The latter attributed responsibility for this operation to Genaro García Luna. then director of the Federal Investigation Agency and future Minister of Public Security in Mexico, currently behind bars in the United States “his release finalizes mine”: florence for her links with the powerful Cartel of Sinaloa.

This affair. emblematic of the slowness of criminal procedures in Mexico, is one of those that the government of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024) had put forward to promote a judicial reform which led to the unprecedented election of magistrates on June 1.

Florence Cassez said she had been captured on a road south of Mexico City. then taken to the Ranch “Las Chinitas”, where her arrest would then have been simulated in front of several media. She was initially sentenced to 96 years in prison. a hard time reduced to 60 just before an official visit by Nicolas Sarkozy, then president of the French Republic, in 2009.

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Florence Cassez: “I rebuild myself day after day”

By ordering the release of Florence Cassez in 2013. the Supreme Court of Mexico had determined that she and her companion had been arrested and then taken to a farm where “A staging of their arrest” Then took place, according to a summary of the judgment. At the time of the couple’s arrest. the authorities said that three victims of kidnappings had been released from this ranch: an 11 -year -old boy, a woman and a man.