The 11 CCAT activists arrested on June 19 were indicted. Among them, 7 defendants including Christian Tein, placed in detention, were transferred to France during the night of this Saturday to Sunday June 23. In a press release, the New Caledonia public prosecutor’s office details the reasons for these “assignments to mainland France”.
At the end of their police custody, which began on June 19, the defendants were summoned at 7 a.m. this Saturday, June 22 to the Nouméa court, the surroundings of which were reinforced by a significant security system.
Also read: the 11 CCAT activists brought before the court
The complexity of the case required the referral of two investigating magistrates to carry out the hearings of the 11 CCAT activists suspected of being the sponsors of the abuses committed in New Caledonia from May 12, 2024.
On the basis of serious or consistent evidence making it likely that they participated as author or accomplice in the alleged acts, the investigating magistrates indicted the eleven alleged sponsors of all the counts of the offense, for acts committed from the 12th to June 19, below:
- complicity in attempted murder at Mont Dore, Nouméa, Dumbéa and Hienghène;
- organized gang robbery with weaponin Nouméa, Dumbéa, Mont-Dore and Païta
- organized gang destruction of the property of others by means dangerous to people,
Other charges were established for acts committed from November 1, 2023 to June 19. This concerns participation in a criminal conspiracy with a view to preparing :
- of a crime;
- an offense punishable by 10 years of imprisonment;
- an offense punishable by at least 5 years in prison;
- participation in a group formed with a view to preparing violence against people or destruction or damage to property.
The judge of freedoms and detention (JLD) followed both the requisitions of the prosecution and the request of the investigating judges. At the end of these hearings, of the 11 people indicted, the magistrate decided to place:
- 9 activists in pre-trial detention and,
- 2 others under judicial supervision.
Among these 9 activists, Joël Tjibaou and Gilles Jorédié requested a deferred debate, in order to prepare thetheir defense, specifies the prosecution. This hearing will be held at the beginning of the week. They were temporarily incarcerated in Nouméa.
Also read: Christian Tein, leader of the CCAT and other activists placed in pre-trial detention will be transferred to France
According to the prosecutor, different criteria were used to place the 11 implicated activists in pre-trial detention, namely, the need :
- to preserve evidence or material clues,
- to prevent any pressure on witnesses or victims,
- to prevent any fraudulent consultation with co-authors or accomplices,
- to put an end to the crimes and offenses charged or to prevent their renewal,
- to guarantee the legal representation of those indicted, particularly in view of the heaviness of the sentence incurred,
- and finally, to put an end to the exceptional and persistent disturbance to public order caused by the seriousness of the offenses, the circumstances of their commission and the extent of the damage caused .
While waiting for these two indicted people to be heard next Tuesday, the seven other activists including Christian Tein, Frédérique Muliava, Brenda Wanabo-Ipeze and Guillaume Vama, thus placed in pre-trial detention, were immediately ” assigned to mainland France “, in penitentiary establishments. This unprecedented and immediate assignment took place during the night of Saturday to Sunday June 23, using a plane specially chartered for this mission.
An assignment to a penitentiary establishment in mainland France was ordered for the seven people placed in pre-trial detention, including Christian TEIN. This transfer was organized during the night using a plane specially chartered for this mission.
Yves Dupas, public prosecutor
In an explicit press release, the public prosecutor underlined the sensitivity and complexity of the procedure.
With the aim of ensuring the continuation of investigations in a calm manner, free from any pressure or fraudulent consultation.
Yves Dupas, public prosecutor
From now on, these investigations are continuing under the authority of the two investigating magistrates. They aim to determine the levels of criminal liability of those giving orders in the commission of serious abuses committed on the territory of New Caledonia. The investigators’ work is carried out in the field by the research section of the Nouméa gendarmerie and by the anti-terrorist sub-directorate in co-responsibility with the Nouméa GIR.