Eight military personnel or former members of the armed forces were tried in Cayenne for alleged acts committed during an operation in an illegal gold mining area in October 2024. Four of them face partial prison sentences, with the prosecution requesting up to three years of imprisonment, two of which are suspended, for the highest-ranking officers.
According to the charges, a patrol allegedly demanded gold at gunpoint from illegal miners in a remote area of western French Guiana. Items were also reportedly taken during these operations. Several defendants deny the allegations, while some admit to inappropriate behavior, describing the incident as an intelligence mission that went wrong.
Practices denounced within clandestine operations
During the hearing, one of the former soldiers described recurring abuses during missions in the forest, claiming that informal seizures of equipment or property were tolerated. The prosecution denounced these actions as damaging to the image of the armed forces, arguing that the local hierarchy had allowed these practices to continue.
The defense challenged the strength of the case, highlighting the lack of physical evidence and its reliance on testimonies deemed weak. A motion to dismiss the proceedings was also raised. The court is expected to deliver its verdict on May 12.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.