French pilots to finally get their day in Dominican court

Santo Domingo.- The trial four French nationals including two pilots of a leased jet, charged with smuggling 700 kilos of cocaine starts Monday in Dominican Republic court, after two years of delays.

"In regard to (pilots) Jean Fauret and Bruno Odos, whom we represent, there’s no reason to further postpone the trial," said lawyer Maria Elena Gratereaux on Friday, quoted by AFP.

Santo Domingo 1st Appellate Court presiding judge Giselle Mendez will head the trial at the Ciudad Nueva courthouse in five straight days of hearings, and includes the passenger of the Falcon jet Nicolas Pasapia, and flight assistant Alain Castany.

Also detained in the case were 42 Dominicans, including airport security and customs personnel, although 27 were released without charges last year and 10 others face prosecution.

Lead prosecutor Miltiades Guzman will unseal the indictment against the French and Dominicans in the first hearing and submit evidence fathered before the trial, while the judge will set the rest of the schedule during the week.

The first hearing in the case was held December 1, 2014, and the suspected were arrested two years ago in the airport at the exclusive resort, Punta Cana.