Twist in the Philippine affair: after initially refusing, suspect Taha Oualidat finally accepts his extradition to France. His lawyer sees this as a sign of a desire to cooperate. But the mystery remains…
The murder of Philippine, a 21-year-old young woman found lifeless on October 16 in the Paris region, has taken a new turn. Taha Oualidat, suspect number one in this case, initially refused to be extradited from Switzerland to France during his hearing by a Geneva prosecutor on October 17. But against all odds, he has just returned to his decision.
A strategic turnaround?
According to his Swiss lawyer, Maître Florence Yersin, it was after a discussion with her that Taha Oualidat finally chose to accept his transfer to France. A tactical choice for the one who defends him:
He knew that he could have appealed for months, but he chose to move forward with the French procedure and not delay it.
Maître Florence Yersin, lawyer for Taha Oualidat
For the lawyer, this decision testifies to the willingness of his client to collaborate with justice. However, she refuses to say more about her state of mind or the merits of the case.
Soon facing the French judge
With this turnaround, Want Oualida should therefore be able to be heard quickly by the French investigating judge in charge of the file. A highly anticipated interrogation, the suspect having so far only been heard by the Swiss authorities since his arrest on October 19 in the suburbs of Geneva.
His initial refusal of extradition had in fact considerably slowed down the procedure. If he had maintained this position, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice would have had to issue a decision, against which Taha Oualidat could have appealed. Enough to delay his return to France by several weeks, even several months.
A worrying profile
Quickly identified as a suspect by the criminal brigade after the discovery of Philippine's body, Taha Oualidat, 22, presents a particularly worrying profile. He had already been convicted of rape in 2021 and was the subject of a procedure for expulsion from French territory.
But when he was released from prison last June, he was placed in an administrative detention center in Metz while awaiting his deportation. A prolonged investment three times, before a judge of freedoms and detention ultimately validated his release.
Judicial information open
In the meantime, the Paris prosecutor's office has opened a judicial investigation for “rape” and “homicide”. Criminal qualifications which, if they were retained at the end of the investigation, could earn Taha Oualidat life imprisonment.
But at this stage, the suspect remains presumed innocent. His return to France and his next hearing by the investigating judge should make it possible to learn more about his exact role in Philippine's death. And potentially to lift part of the veil on the still very vague circumstances of this drama which aroused strong emotion.
