Chad child 'kidnappers' could face French justice

Nine French people charged with kidnapping over their involvement in trying to fly scores of children out of Chad could face trial in their own country.

The group, including three journalists, were among 17 arrested accused of using a charity as a front to abduct children for adoption in Europe.

Chad’s interior minister Ahmat Bachir said if found guilty all could face up to 20 years in prison with hard labour.

But French Justice Minister Rachida Dati said there was a judicial agreement with Chad that would enable the African country to return the six to France to face trial.

“In the framework of this agreement, Chad can say, ’we are leaving France the possibility of handling this judicial case,”’she said.

All the accused, who include a seven-strong flight crew will be taken to the capital N’Djamena this week.

French charity Zoe’s Ark said it had arranged for the children, which it claimed were orphans from the war-torn Darfur region of neighbouring Sudan, to be cared for by French foster families.

But the United Nations children’s agency Unicef said many of them appeared to be from villages in Chad, and were not orphans.

Chad’s President Idriss Deby said it was a “straightforward kidnapping” and promised punishment for those involved. French authorities also have condemned the charity’s plans.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Mr Deby this weekend to discuss the case, which unfolded as the EU prepares a peacekeeping force in Chad and Central African Republic to help refugees along their borders with Darfur.

In France police searched the charity’s offices as well as the apartment of its founder as part of an inquiry into whether the group broke adoption laws.

The group initially promised some families that they could adopt, not merely foster, children from Darfur.

A spokesman for the charity insisted its intentions were simply humanitarian.

“The team is made up of firemen, doctors and journalists. It’s unimaginable that doubts are being cast on these people of good faith, who volunteered to save children from Darfur,” he said.