Frenchman Serge Atlaoui Returns to France After 19 Years in Indonesian Prisons

Atlaoui, who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in 2007, was repatriated following a humanitarian agreement due to his deteriorating health.

Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old Frenchman, was arrested in 2005 in Indonesia and accused of being a 'chemist' in a drug factory, a charge he has consistently denied.
Initially sentenced to life imprisonment, his sentence was escalated to the death penalty in 2007, though he narrowly avoided execution in 2015 following diplomatic pressure from France.
Atlaoui's return was facilitated by a January 24 agreement between France and Indonesia, citing humanitarian grounds due to his illness and regular medical treatments in prison.
On arrival in France, Atlaoui will be taken to the Bobigny court for formal notification of his incarceration under French jurisdiction before being transferred to a penitentiary.
The case has drawn significant attention both in Indonesia, known for its strict anti-drug laws, and in France, where public figures and activists have advocated for his release.