News: The verdict in the trial of Rédoine Faïd and her brother Rachid Faïd fell yesterday evening. Rédoine Faïd, the repeat robber who escaped from Réau prison by helicopter in 2018, was sentenced to 14 years of criminal imprisonment. His brother, Rachid Faïd, who helped him during his escape, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The sentences handed down are lower than those requested by the prosecution, which had requested 22 years of imprisonment for Rédoine Faïd and 18 years of imprisonment for her brother. Rédoine Faïd’s lawyers reacted by emphasizing that the sentences handed down were nevertheless very heavy, particularly given the isolation he will face during these 14 years in prison.
This trial, which lasted seven weeks, also saw the conviction of three nephews of Rédoine Faïd, who were found guilty of helping him during his three-month run. The sentences handed down against them range from two to eight years in prison. On the other hand, the “landlady” of one of the nephews, with whom Rédoine Faïd had hidden at the end of his run, was acquitted.
This verdict marks the end of a long and high-profile trial, which attracted the attention of many observers. Rédoine Faïd, with his spectacular helicopter escape, had managed to capture the attention of the public and the media. But beyond the sensational aspect of this escape, this trial also revealed the details of the careful organization of this daring escape plan, which was based on an “irrational flaw”: the absence of anti-aircraft lines. near the prison visiting rooms.
The decision of the Assize Court to impose less severe sentences than those requested by the prosecution may raise questions. Some see it as a sign of leniency on the part of the court, while others believe that the prosecution’s submissions were disproportionate. In any case, this verdict marks the end of an important chapter in the Rédoine Faïd affair and opens the way to possible appeals and appeals by those convicted.