Ouaihid Ben Faïza, a convicted drug trafficker, secured a controversial prison leave for a job interview in Vaulx-en-Velin. The manager of Hydroquip, the company that hosted him, insists on treating him as any other person. The move has sparked mixed reactions.
Ouaihid Ben Faïza, 52, is serving a sentence for drug trafficking since his 2012 conviction and a 2014 escape with an armed commando. Ranked among France's top 100 drug traffickers, he is held at Vendin-le-Vieil in the Pas-de-Calais, with release set for 2029.
Despite opposition from the Béthune prosecutor's office, a sentencing judge granted him leave on Monday for an interview at Hydroquip, a small firm specializing in hydraulic components in Vaulx-en-Velin near Lyon. The decision was upheld by the Douai appeals court's sentencing chamber. Ben Faïza took a train from Lille and arrived on time.
The anonymous manager called the meeting successful: “It went very well, we talked, he admitted to mistakes from his youth but seemed motivated. To me, he’s just another human being, it’s not the end of the world. He hasn’t hurt or killed anyone.” He continued: “I don’t understand the fuss. I just want to help people who’ve made mistakes.” Though interested, he is weighing the distance from Ben Faïza’s family roots in La Courneuve, Seine-Saint-Denis.
The company saw a surge in Google reviews, with support and backlash. Ben Faïza committed in September to repaying 143,174.79 euros in fines at 50 euros monthly. Prosecutors question his career plan, given a potential near-minimum-wage job. Back in prison, a job offer could hasten parole, per a prison union representative.