A judge has ordered the release of twenty-five Indian passengers from a plane grounded in France on suspicion of human trafficking, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Prosecutors said the count approved their release on procedural grounds because the chief of the border police at France’s main Charles De Gaulle airport had not referred the case to him within the term specified by law.
“They are therefore free to do as they please, even if they are in an irregular situation on French territory”, the Bobigny public prosecutor’s office stated.
The 25, who had sought political asylum in France, were released on Tuesday. Five of them, all youngsters, were brought into the custody of child welfare services.
The 25 passengers were among 303 who boarded a plane operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines in Dubai.
They had hoped to arrive in Nicaragua, but a refueling stop at Vatry airport in northeastern France on December 21 led to the plane being grounded for four days due to an anonymous tip.
The charge of human trafficking was withdrawn once it was determined that the passengers boarded the plane voluntarily.
Two people who remained in France were questioned by police on suspicion of people trafficking.
The plane carrying the remaining 276 passengers returned to India on Tuesday.
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