Nicolas Sarkozy spoke by phone Sunday night with Florence Cassez, the French held in Mexico for over four years after being sentenced to 60 years in prison for kidnapping.
In a statement, the Elysee said that the Head of State "has ensured that he personally saw to follow his case and that the French authorities continue to lend all the assistance provided by the law."
Arrested December 8, 2005 and sentenced to 60 years in prison for kidnapping which she said innocent, Florence Break has just started its fifth year of incarceration in Mexico. In March, Mr Sarkozy said he had obtained his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon, the young woman was transferred to France to serve his sentence.
But, fearing an early release, Mexico had rejected that option last June. On December 8, the Quai d'Orsay had indicated that "new elements" brought the France "to doubt that Florence Cassez has received a fair trial and the defense was able to assert its rights."
The Mexican Embassy had reacted immediately, saying the French had been "judged according to law and convicted at trial and on appeal for particularly serious crimes". She "was able to use all the defenses provided by Mexican law," has always been represented by counsel of his confidence and also received consular assistance from the Embassy of France in Mexico.
According to one of his lawyers, Mr. Franck Berton, France would be studying closely a referral to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, adding that the Quai d'Orsay is preparing an application. "It does not do it, but nothing is decided yet," stated the Elysee Palace early December