Frenchman Alain Schmitt, the leader of the Minh Vacma sect, and his partner Laurence Liegeois yesterday lost their appeal from a Maltese court decision authorising their extradition to France.
The two are wanted in France to serve time for extortion, illegal arrest and violence against members of a sect.
Schmitt, 49 and his Belgian fiancée Liegeois were arrested in a Naxxar residence on 7 January while fleeing from justice after a French court in Thionville, found them guilty in absentia in 2008 on kidnapping charges. Schmitt was given a five-year prison sentence, while Liegois got three years.
Schmitt still has four years and 10 months left to serve of a jail term and his 47-year-old fiancée has 15 months.
Their extradition was ordered by the Magistrates’ Court after a European Arrest Warrant was issued last month.
Former members of the religious sect Minh Vacma testified that they were subjected to inhumane treatment while living in the sect’s compound in Algrange. Witnesses said they were forced to eat dog food and drink toilet water. One victim said he was extorted out of around €21,000, while others claim promotions in Minh Vacma’s hierarchy were made in return for sexual favours.
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