“I am disabled for life, my life is already ruined”: Théo Luhaka reacts to the conviction of the three police officers in this case

Théo Luhaka se confie après les condamnations des policiers. MAXPPP – Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium

This Friday, January 19, 2024, the three police officers implicated in the Théo affair, injured during an arrest in Alnay-sous-Bois in 2017, were sentenced to sentences ranging from 3 to 12 month suspended prison sentence. Théo Luhaka, the victim, speaks about the verdict.

Seven years later, the end of a story. This Friday, justice delivered its verdict and sentenced the three police officers implicated in the Théo case, who had been seriously injured in the anus during an arrest in 2017 in Aulnay sous Bois. Théo Luhaka, the victim, answered questions from our colleagues from BFMTV in the show "L'guest of the week& ;quot; broadcast this Sunday.

"I consider myself dead"

Seven years have passed since the events. "This verdict is the end of a very long nightmare, it's behind us", he said, referring to the convictions of the police officers.

He says he is satisfied with this decision taken by the courts as well. "I am happy to have reestablished the truth and I am very happy that it was heard and that they were punished. What mattered most to me was to show the world that I was victim", Théo declared to our colleagues.

Questioned about the adequacy of the sentences of the three police officers involved, he replied that it was not his responsibility, that this question "it's that of the judges, the juries", before returning to his handicap. "Whether he gets 50 years in prison or not, I'm disabled for life, my life is already ruined, that's not what's really going to relieve me& ;quot;, he regrets.

The reconstruction of this young man, almost thirty years old, is very difficult. Théo Luhaka says he still suffers from incontinence, which is a loss of bladder control. "My daily life constantly reminds me that I am disabled for life. I will never be the same again, my smile will never be whole again. I consider myself dead", he whispered, in front of the cameras of BFMTV.

This case was highly publicized, as was the death of Nahel, killed by police shooting, last June which caused riots throughout France, or even Michel Zecler, a music producer violently attacked by police in his music studio. She highlighted the police violence which seems to be increasing in the country. But Théo Luhaka does not individualize his case. “My business is the company's business, it's not just my business,” he said.

Less than the requisitions of the general advocate

The three police officers involved were sentenced to sentences ranging from three months to twelve months in prison, suspended for the perpetrator of the baton attack, against whom the attorney general had demanded the day before three years in prison. 

The latter was prosecuted for intentional violence resulting in "mutilation or permanent infirmity" on the victim, with the aggravating circumstances of his status as a person holding public authority, with a weapon and in a meeting. He also received a five-year ban on practicing on public roads and a five-year ban on carrying a weapon.

His two other colleagues, prosecuted for intentional violence, both received three months suspended prison sentences. The attorney general had requested six months against one of them.