Six people have been in police custody since the start of the week, after a “Place Net” operation took place in Digne-les-Bains. This Friday, January 17, five people in police custody are now indicted, including four placed in pre-trial detention, the Dauphiné Libéré the public prosecutor Antoine Pesme.
The investigators' investigations began following the evening of December 13. That evening, while there were still customers, individuals entered a restaurant on Place de la Barlette in the town center of Digne-les-Bains. They had the establishment evacuated, before demanding money from the owner, at gunpoint. Other Digne merchants had suffered from similar events. A month later, Tuesday January 14, around a hundred members of the police (National Police, RAID and CRS) were mobilized in the city-prefecture for arrests.
Three indictments for organized extortion
Among the six people arrested, police custody was lifted on Thursday January 16, with no further action. A man was placed under judicial supervision, indicted for possession of a category C weapon without declaration. He is notably prohibited from entering into contact with the other suspects.
They are all placed in pre-trial detention, specifies Antoine Pesme. One is “indicted for drug trafficking and participation in a criminal association”, the three others are for “organized gang extortion, drug trafficking and participation in a criminal association”, specifies the magistrate.
-Tuesday January 14, during a press conference at the end of the “Place Net” operation, the public prosecutor indicated that four establishments had already filed a complaint in this case.
