Mazurier case: French President bows to Suja Jones

Bangalore/

, Feb 14: In the backdrop of slew of allegations by Suja Jones, the wife of French official Pascal Mazurier, facing charges of raping his three-year-old daughter, visiting

Francois Hollande today sought to intervene in the case. She had also demanded meeting with the president after lawyers of Mazurier were met by Hollande's office at Elysee Palace.

In a bid to overcome diplomatic embarrassment Hollande told reporters in New Delhi that "my office would meet representatives of the mother of the alleged rape victim if asked. I trust Indian justice system."

Suja Jones has been receiving international support in this matter. Algerian academic and rights activist Marieme Helie Lucas has in a letter to French minister for women Najat Vallaud-Belkacem alleges that the Elysee meeting was part of an orchestrated campaign in support of the father which amounts to an attempt to interfere with a criminal case going through the Indian courts.

"We were very surprised to learn, through the press, that only the advocates of the accused, the father of the young victim, have been received at the Elysee," wrote Helie Lucas. "We ask that you give your support to Suja Jones's demand for a meeting with the president of the Republic during his upcoming visit to India."

Mazurier's Indian wife had also asked France's Foreign Ministry to explain "why their diplomats are providing support for him but not the little girl."

The wife and her lawyers have alleged that Mazurier transferred the family's money into the account of his friend, Vincent Caumontat, who was the Deputy Consul in Bangalore at the time of his arrest. The lawyers allege that the then Consul General of France tried to fool the police into thinking that Mazurier enjoyed diplomatic immunity, which is not the case.

There was a talk that the French national, out on bail, was likely to derail Hollande's visit to India.

OneIndia News