In France, rapid trials are being held for citizens arrested during the largest riots in years. As the government vows to respond firmly to violent acts, defendants are either denying the charges or admitting to their involvement in looting while pleading for leniency.
According to the New York Times on the 21st, rapid trials for defendants arrested on charges related to violent protests and looting are ongoing at Paris courts. As of the 20th, over 2,500 people have been arrested nationwide, with approximately 550 detained in Paris. Reuters reported that more than 900 of those arrested have been charged.
The unrest was sparked by protests against poor educational conditions and rising living costs. On the 17th, nationwide demonstrations, which included student groups, labor unions, and participants from the 'Yellow Vest' movement, drew an estimated 550,000 people, according to the French Interior Ministry. While most protests were peaceful, clashes with police and looting occurred in some areas.
In response to the surge in trial demand, the Paris court has doubled the number of courtrooms allocated for rapid trials. These trials typically address minor offenses such as theft, assault, and traffic violations, allowing for quick adjudication of defendants arrested in the act.
During a rapid trial session observed by the NYT, 10 out of 14 cases involved young men, many from working-class neighborhoods on the outskirts of Paris, with some defendants having no prior criminal records.
Victor Bertua, 21, was charged with throwing stones at police and participating in barricade construction during the protests on the 17th. Prosecutors claimed he was also in possession of smoke grenades at the time. However, Bertua denied throwing stones or building barricades, stating he was merely trying to prevent a fire from spreading by removing wooden boards from a burning trash can. His lawyer argued that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mustapha Dembele, 18, who moved to France from Senegal at age 8, faced charges for throwing bottles at police and firing fireworks. He was found with seven pairs of stolen glasses and a designer T-shirt at the time of his arrest but claimed he had picked them up off the street and did not know they were stolen.
Some defendants admitted to participating in looting and pleaded for leniency. Friends Aite Lanjurong, 21, and Dalvis Mbuku Samba, 20, appeared in court for stealing several bottles of whiskey from a grocery store in the Marais district of Paris. Lanjurong stated he entered the open store to take alcohol for a birthday celebration. However, the judge pointed out that Mbuku Samba had messaged a friend saying, 'We’re going to loot everything' and 'I stole a lot of bottles.' Ultimately, both acknowledged their wrongdoing and apologized, promising not to repeat their actions. The store owner reported hiding in the basement for hours while about 130 people looted the store, with damages estimated at around €45,000 (approximately $67,000).
On that day, Bertua, Dembele, Lanjurong, and Mbuku Samba were all found guilty and sentenced to 6 to 8 months in prison, suspended. A civil trial to determine the restitution amount for Lanjurong and Mbuku Samba is scheduled for May of next year.
The French government has made its tough stance clear. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that those who turned generally peaceful protests into riots would be held accountable. The government believes that far-left groups and opportunistic criminals are leading the violence. Darmanin noted that 95% of those detained are men, with 70% being adults, and emphasized that many of those arrested are not only immigrants or foreigners but also citizens deeply rooted in French society.
Meanwhile, the surge in rapid trials has raised concerns about procedural fairness. According to the French daily Le Monde, approximately 70 protest-related cases were processed through rapid trials and simplified procedures in Paris on the 20th. Some lawyers have questioned whether defendants' rights to a proper defense are adequately protected in the rush to resolve cases. In fact, the courts have issued both suspended sentences and acquittals due to insufficient evidence.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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