Any extradition from France ‘will be complex’

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 8

Any extradition from France ‘will be complex’

PA Wellington New Zealand police investigating the Rainbow Warrior bombing would expect any request to extradite French nationals from France for trial in New Zealand to be complex, said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson, yesterday. Because France and New Zealand had no treaty covering criminal extraditions the situation was not clear, he said. He said he was pleased at France’s latest statement of “total backing” and expected full co-operation from the French. However, if a French national was wanted for trial in New Zealand, extradition from France would be complex. “French on French soil

could pose problems.” Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the police would talk to the French authorities, Mr Thompson said. Some preliminary discussions had taken place. Although a path was being cleared for possible extraditions, the police did not know if those wanted in connection with the bombing were French nationals, Mr Thompson said. New Zealand detectives in France would depend on the French police for assistance with their inquiries, he said. He expected they would be treated in the same way as foreign detectives were treated in New Zealand, as chaperoned visitors, with assistance where necessary.