Man arrested in Switzerland over death of French student
The 22-year old suspect had been previously convicted of rape and was subject to an order to leave France, but paperwork authorising his extradition was reportedly delayed
French authorities will launch an extradition request for the suspect, who was arrested by Swiss police
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Swiss police arrested a 22-year old man yesterday (September 24) in connection with the death of a teenager whose body was found partially buried in woods in Paris.
Read more: Body of missing student found buried in Paris wood
The man was arrested in Geneva, and French police have confirmed they will immediately submit an extradition request.
Police traced the location of the man, named as Taha O, via video surveillance and his mobile phone, which he activated in Annecy and then in Switzerland.
Tracing of the victim's bank card, which was used in Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis) after her death, was also used to help catch the suspect.
Suspect previously imprisoned for rape
The man, of Moroccan nationality, was known to the French justice system, and had previously been convicted of rape in 2019.
He arrived in France via Spain, and was not a dual national.
He committed the rape as a minor (the age of majority in France is 18), and was arrested soon after, remaining in detention until October 2021, when he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Despite receiving a seven-year sentence, his imprisonment ended in June 2024 (spending five years incarcerated between his time under arrest and imprisonment), partially for good behaviour, but he remained on the French sex offenders register.
He was immediately subject to an order to leave France (obligation de quitter le territoire français, OQTF) after being released, and remained in a detention centre whilst the necessary paperwork was completed.
Read more: Suspect in murder of Lola, 12: What is a OQTF order to leave France?
France had requested the suspect's extradition to Morocco, however La Dépèche reports that the Moroccan government were late sending paperwork to accept his extradition.
Without this approval, the French government were unable to send him back.
He was released on the orders of a judge after 90 days in detention (on September 3), on the condition he regularly check-in with the authorities.
The paperwork from Morocco to approve his extradition reportedly came a day after he was released (September 4).
He failed to check-in with the authorities, leading to him being placed on a list of missing criminals and suspects (fichier des personnes recherchées) on Thursday September 19, the day before the teenager's murder.
Teenager's body found in Paris woods
The body of the victim, a 19-year old student at Paris-Dauphine University called Philippine, was found after the location of her phone was geo-localised to the Bois de Boulogne.
Her family became aware of her absence on Friday (September 20) after she did not return home from university, as she had planned to do so.
She was partially found via the help of an app called The Sorority, which alerts nearby users when a woman feels unsafe or is under threat of male violence.
Read more: Death of Paris student: What is ‘The Sorority’ app that sent alert?
