French councillor admits smuggling illegal immigrants
A French politician has admitted helping to smuggle illegal immigrants into the UK through Portsmouth.
Christiane Chocat and her son Benjamin were caught bringing 16 Vietnamese nationals through Portsmouth ferry port on October 1 last year.
Benjamin, 20, of Choisy-le-Roi, France, had already pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting unlawful entry into a European member state and yesterday his mother confessed to her part.
The pair face a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Mrs Chocat, 51, a councillor in her home town of Lumigny-Nesles-Ormeaux had taken part in the smuggling to help her son.
Prosecutor Martyn Booth said: 'We do not seek to go behind the suggestion that the son is the main player in this enterprise.
'Nor do we seek to challenge that she became involved in this enterprise out of some misguided desire to be supportive to that son.
'We don't accept that her knowledge was really quite limited as suggested and it's clear that she did play some part in the planning.
'We cannot comment whether or not she would have received any financial reward but, as I say, we do accept that she is a secondary of these individuals.'
The pair had hired a van and come over from Cherbourg on the Normandy Express ferry. The authorities were alerted due to the amount of condensation on the van's windows.
Inside investigators discovered the 13 men and three women had been hidden behind packets of noodles inside a box measuring just 5ft long and a few feet wide.
Detective Inspector Andy Cummins, of the UK Border Agency's South East Immigration Crime Team, said: 'The UK Border Agency is determined to crack down on people smuggling. Today's conviction sends out a clear message that we will take action against ruthless people who attempt to exploit those attempting to enter the UK illegally.
'We will act swiftly to prosecute those who attempt to abuse the goodwill of the UK and our hospitality in this way.'
The Chocats were remanded in custody to be sentenced on February 5.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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