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Body in Spanish Pyrenees likely French murder suspect: Spain

Spanish police on Monday confirmed finding skeletal remains in the Pyrenees, saying that they probably belong to a French father suspected of killing two teachers in France eight months ago.

Published: 20 March 2023 15:39 CET
Body in Spanish Pyrenees likely French murder suspect: Spain
Body found in Spanish Pyrenees mostly likely French murder suspect. Photo: armennano / Pixabay

The remains were found early Sunday in Pena Oroel in the foothills of the Pyrenees by a man who was out hunting, the Guardia Civil police said.

“In light of the belongings found next to the body, everything suggests it is likely to be the French national who has been missing since July 4th,” it said. “However, we must await final confirmation from DNA tests.”

A report in the Heraldo de Aragón newspaper said the hunter spotted a white crash helmet with a mobile phone, a charger and the body lying nearby.

On July 4th, Aurelie Pardon, a 32-year-old French teacher, and 55-year-old sports teacher Gabriel Fourmigue were shot dead in the French village of Pouyastruc in the Pyrenees.

The suspect, Cedric Tauleygne, fled on a motorcycle that was later found on the Spanish side of the border. Tauleygne was the woman’s former partner.

They had two children together and were in the process of separating.

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CRIME

Dutch gang leader vanishes in Spain after release

A top drug trafficker is on the run after being bailed from jail in Spain, officials said Tuesday, dodging a bid to extradite him to the Netherlands where his Mocro Maffia gang is based.

Published: 24 April 2024 09:23 CEST
Dutch gang leader vanishes in Spain after release

Karim Bouyakhrichan was arrested in January in Marbella, an upmarket tourist resort on Spain’s southern coast, along with five other members of the Mocro Maffia gang.

They are suspected of having bought 172 properties in Spain worth over €50 million ($53.5 million) to launder their gains from drug trafficking.

But the following month a court in the southern city of Málaga decided to grant him provisional release with judicial supervision, against the wishes of public prosecutors and the Spanish government. Judicial sources said Tuesday his whereabouts are now unknown.

“It is worrying news,” Justice Félix Bolaños told a news conference following a weekly cabinet meeting when asked about the case.

“I can’t comment on any court decisions, but I do trust that the state security forces will bring this person to justice as soon as possible,” he added.

The Málaga court said in its ruling granting Bouyakhrichan provisional release that the risk that he would flee could be avoided “with other less burdensome security measures” than pre-trial detention.

It imposed bail of €50,000, took away his passport and ordered him to report to the authorities twice a month.

Dutch extradition bid

At the same time Spain’s top criminal court was processing a request for Bouyakhrichan’s extradition to the Netherlands, where he is wanted for large-scale drug trafficking.

But it postponed its extradition proceedings because the Málaga court intended to put Bouyakhrichan on trial first for money laundering, court sources told AFP.

When the Netherlands provided more information to back its extradition request, the top court summoned him to testify and when he failed to appear a fresh warrant for his arrest was issued.

Vincent Veenman, a spokesman at the Dutch public prosecutor’s office in The Hague, said it was “unknown” to them why Bouyakhrichan had not been detained for extradition.

“We are currently awaiting a decision on the extradition request,” he added.

“Our experience with the Spanish justice system is that this cooperation is generally good. Dozens of suspects are handed over every year.”

Bouyakhrichan’s brother Samir, another leading member of the Mocro Maffia, was murdered in 2014 near Marbella, sparking a reorganisation of organised crime groups in the region.

The Mocro Maffia made international headlines in 2022 after it emerged that Dutch Crown Princess Amalia had been placed under heavy protection in response to fears of an attack by the group.

Dutch media reported earlier last week that the 20-year-old heir to the Dutch throne studied in Madrid after being forced to ditch plans to live in student accommodation in Amsterdam because of the threats.

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