The Florence Cassez Affair: Mexico v. France
Culpable!
On Thursday, December 8, 2005, the Mexican police arrested a couple in a car near Mexico City. The man, Israel Vallarta, was the suspected leader of »Los Zodiacos,» a gang held responsible for a dozen kidnappings and at least one murder. The police kept both Vallarta and the woman who was with him incarcerated that night despite the fact that the woman had no criminal record. The following day, on Friday, December 9th, the police drove the couple to Israel Vallarta’s ranch, Las Chinitas, about 20 kilometers away from Mexico City. The police discovered three people confined inside the ranch, along with an extensive supply of weapons and explosives. The Mexican media, who arrived shortly before, saw for the first time the face of the woman that would soon become a major point of contention between France and Mexico: Florence Cassez.
In March 2003, Florence Cassez, born in Lille, France, decided to join her brother Sébastien, who had been living in Mexico. While there, she met Sébastien’s friend, Israel Vallarta, who introduced himself as a car salesman. They soon entered into a love affair and she moved into his ranch. However, in April 2005 they broke up and Cassez returned to France, but eventually found herself back in Mexico. From September to December 2005, she stayed with Vallarta until she found her own apartment. When they were arrested in December, they were moving her furniture. She was not suspected of any crime by the police until live coverage of the incident aired on television. At this point, Cassez was suspected of being a member of »Los Zodiacos,» and was moved to a detention center to await further investigation and trial. Mexican public opinion and the bulk of the media raged against her as she waited in prison. The trial lasted from February 15, 2006 to October 2007 and was eventually charged with four kidnappings, conspiracy, and the possession of weapons and ammunitions, and condemned to 96 years in prison. However, due to the pressure from the French government, her sentence was reduced to 60 years.
For full article click here
This analysis was prepared by COHA Research Associate Florian Dantreuille
Blog de Octavio Islas 