France mistakenly pays suspected extremist too much damages

A suspected Islamic extremist has been mistakenly granted too much money in damages for being kept in custody before a judge eventually dismissed his case, the French justice ministry said.

Farouk Ben Abbes was placed in custody in 2010 after being given preliminary terrorist charges and he sought damages when he was released after the case was dismissed, the ministry said in a statement released on Thursday after press reports disclosed details.