Unaware of passengers
Published Date:
17 May 2008
A French woman has told a jury she had no idea there were 10 illegal immigrants in the back of her camper van.
Martine Bianchini said she didn't notice anything odd about the way the vehicle handled as she drove from Paris to Caen.
Bianchini and her partner, Bruno Rivoire, who was her passenger, were arrested at Portsmouth Ferry Port on December 12, last year, after immigration officers discovered the illegal immigrants in the rear luggage compartment of the camper van.
At Southampton Crown Court, Bianchini, 53, said she was unaware that eight Chinese nationals and two Iraqis were in the luggage compartment: 'No-one said anything and I saw no-one.'
The jury has heard that Rivoire, 45, has pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle illegal immigrants into the UK. But Bianchini maintained she was not involved. Bianchini, of Rue Boel Coler, Bricquebec, north France, denies 10 counts of assisting unlawful entry into the UK.
(Proceeding)
The full article contains 161 words and appears in NS-City newspaper.
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Last Updated:
17 May 2008 9:40 AM
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Source:
NS-City
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Location:
Portsmouth
