Extortion, kidnapping: aged 18 to 21, they lured men by making them believe they were meeting minors

Le président a questionné l’un des prévenus, jusque-là inconnu de la justice, sur ce qui l’a conduit à commettre ces faits de violence. Midi Libre – RICHARD DE HULLESSEN

Several men were attacked last January in Grabels, Vailhauquès and Pérols. Tried on Wednesday April 24 before the criminal court, the five young people were sentenced to prison terms, some of which were reduced.

Two young women and three young men, aged 18 to 21, were sentenced on Wednesday April 24 by the Montpellier Criminal Court in a case of kidnapping, theft with violence, extortion and fraud . The facts, committed in Grabels, Vailhauquès and Pérols, near Montpellier, date back to last January. Of the three victims, one was present at the hearing, another represented by his lawyer.

Baited via Coco, Tinder and Snapchat

Among the facts judged, two episodes of violence were committed as an ambush: a false ad for a minor girl published on the internet (via the Coco dating site, the applications Tinder and Snapchat), in order to trap men by giving them a night date. The third victim was attacked on a road in Pérols. Under threat of a knife, cash, bank cards and a checkbook were taken. The police investigation resulted in the arrest of six young people, five of whom had been placed in pre-trial detention.

What implication for the two young women ?

At the hearing, President Aurélien Vitrac first questions the two young women, prosecuted for complicity. "Why didn't you tell them that’ rsquo;they were doing anything ? How can you find yourself in the same situation two days later ? If you witnessed extortion with a weapon, you don't stay with them!", he asks one of them, who claims to have acted under threat. The second admits to having agreed to record voice messages to trap the victims. "I regret", she said, while specifying having also been threatened.

Was she aware of the villainous plans of the three young men ? "Yes, but I didn't think it would go that far.&amp ;quot; For her collaboration, she received 50 €. Her lawyer, Me Garance Tursan, recalls that her client is being followed by an association to get out of prostitution, that’ she has been practicing since the age of 15. Later, in her pleading, she will mention "a lost young woman, constantly used by the people she meets." The lawyer pleads "the’control", "l&amp ;rsquo;inability to say no".

One of the defendants, until then unknown to the justice system

Then comes the turn of one of the three young men. Video surveillance images show him going to get money from ATMs, alone or accompanied by the victim. Aged 18, originally from Grabels, until then from the police and justice. The president points "cold violence", wonders about the absence "of minimal empathy towards other human beings." The defendant explains that he did not think that the victims would file a complaint, due to the fact that they had responded to the ;rsquo;announcement of a minor. Furthermore, he refuses to denounce two accomplices who have not been arrested. "Do you have any problem protecting delinquents ?", an assessor asks her. In a fairly detached tone throughout his presence on the stand, he explains that he only intends to respond to the facts with which he is accused.

Another defendant, aged 21, on the contrary, has a long criminal record. He disputes the facts, despite the DNA samples, telephone records and the testimonies of the victims which weigh against him. Several times during the hearing, he intervened, annoyed, at the comments of the two young women. "It’s too easy to come to the stand and make people shocked. It’s very easy to blame me!"

The five defendants were nevertheless sentenced to prison terms, some of which were modified (see box).

Prison sentences, suspended sentences revoked

The two young women were arrested. sentenced to death the same sentence: two years in prison including 18 months suspended on probation. They will perform the firm part at a glance. home, under electronic bracelet. On the side Of the three young men, the one who presented a clean record and admitted having had the idea for this project, is sentenced to prison. à 5 years in prison, two of which were suspended on probation. The second, whose locker already showed numerous convictions, and who was the subject of a damning report from the sentencing judge, sentenced to six years in prison, one of which was suspended on probation. eacute;, to which is added the revocation of a 16-month suspended sentence. À against the third, the court pronounced a sentence of 42 months' imprisonment, 12 of which with reinforced probationary suspension; for two years, to which is added the revocation of a twelve-month reprieve.

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