French Nazi-era collaborator loses court appeal

France’s highest court today rejected an appeal by convicted Nazi-era collaborator Maurice Papon against his sentence for complicity in crimes against humanity.

The unexpectedly quick ruling by the Court of Cassation came hours after state prosecutors urged the court to reject the appeal. The court originally said its decision would come next Wednesday.

Papon, 93, a one-time budget minister, was convicted of complicity in crimes against humanity in 1998, but has continued to claim his innocence and sought ways to have his name cleared.

While the ruling ended the last appeal that Papon had in the case, defence lawyers said they will ask the court’s review panel to overturn Friday’s decision.

The court was examining whether proper legal procedure was followed ahead of the conviction. It was not judging the guilt or innocence of Papon.

About 15 members of the Association of Sons and Daughters of Deported Jews of France demonstrated in front of the Justice Palace while the court deliberated.

Papon was convicted for his role in deporting 1,690 Jews in the Bordeaux area to Nazi death camps during the Second World War.

He was freed from prison in September 2002, less than three years into a 10-year sentence, under a law allowing early release for the ill and ageing.

Papon was the No 2 official in the Bordeaux region in south-western France during the German occupation.

During the war about 76,000 Jews, including 12,000 children, were deported from France, many to Auschwitz. Only 2,500 survived.