Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

Search

 

Cablegate: Peterson Case: French Moj Response to Cook County,

VZCZCXYZ0015
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #4680 3451023
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111023Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1421
INFO RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS PARIS 004680

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

L FOR KENNETH PROPP AND M. GUILANI; DOJ FOR KENNETH J.
HARRIS, P. REEDY, AND E. CRAIG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CJAN KCRM FR
SUBJECT: PETERSON CASE: FRENCH MOJ RESPONSE TO COOK COUNTY,
ILLINOIS STATE'S ATTORNEY

REF: A. PARIS 4456
B. STATE 146715

1. (SBU) Embassy received a response from Jean-Marie Huet,
A/S-equivalent for Criminal Affairs at the Ministry of
Justice, on December 10, to the Office of the State's
Attorney for Cook County, Illinois's request (reftel B) that
the French government reconsider the nationality claim of
Hans Peterson, wanted in Illinois for the October 2006 murder
of Dr. David Cornbleet. The letter, dated November 22, was
transmitted to the Embassy by the MFA's Americas Bureau. As
expected, the GOF continues to deny Peterson's extradition to
the U.S., claiming that French law does not allow for the
extradition of its nationals beyond EU borders. The French
judiciary has initiated its own prosecution of the case, and
asks in the letter for U.S. assistance in completing the
investigation. An informal translation of the letter is
contained in paragraph two. A copy of the original text has
been to e-mailed to State's France desk and the Office of the
Legal Advisor. We understand the original was sent via
postal service to the Office of the State's Attorney for Cook
County, Illinois.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

2. (SBU) Embassy's informal translation of the Huet letter:

Mr. Prosecutor,

Your letter dated September 24 was received with the greatest
attention.

The case which you discuss is particularly distressing and we
agree that it is highly likely that Mr. Hans Peterson came to
France in order to avoid the American justice system, and we
deplore this action.

Concerning the possibility of extradition, I assure you that
we have not spared any effort to find a solution which
responds to your perfectly legitimate request.

At the same time, as a result of French legislation as well
as the stipulations in the U.S./France bilateral extradition
Treaty, such a result is not foreseen.

In fact, as you know, Mr. Hans Peterson has possessed French
nationality since his birth and his presence on French
territory does not allow us any other choice but to declare
the impossibility of his extradition.

Nevertheless, I hope to underline here the agility with which
the French justice system has responded in placing Hans
Peterson into preliminary detention since August 8, 2007. An
official investigation has begun based on the following
charges: murder accompanied by, preceding, or following acts
of torture or barbarism.

I can also inform you that the prosecuting magistrate has
already prepared an international letter rogatory addressed
to your office, which you should receive in the briefest time
possible through the Department of Justice. In the framework
of international judicial cooperation we will ask for your
permission to authorize a French examining magistrate to
travel to Chicago to attend to the execution of this letter
rogatory under your care.

It is in all of our interests, and notably in the interest of
the family of the deceased, that Mr. Peterson be held
accountable for his acts before the justice system. This day
of reckoning, to which I attach the greatest importance, is
tied to the judicial cooperation between our two countries
which have always been frank and loyal and find in this case
a way to demonstrate the strength of that relationship.

I assure you, Mr. Prosecutor, of my most distinguished
consideration.

Signed,
Jean-Marie Huet
13, place Vendome
75042 Paris Cedex 01

End Text

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm


STAPLETON

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.