(prensa.com) Manuel Antonio Noriega will remain a prisoner in La Santé Jail in Paris, France.
Yesterday, the Paris Court of Appeals denied a request for probation submitted by defense attorneys for the former dictator. Noriega’s lawyer, Yves Leberquier, said that the former dictator is “old and sick,” and that he should be granted his release.
Noriega was joined at the court appearance by his daughter, Sandra. Aristides Gómez, Panama’s consul in Paris, was also in the courtroom.
The former general was attempted to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest instead of in jail.
France still has to decide whether or not to extradite Noriega to Panama. Panama formally requested the extradition last June. Noriega faces a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of Hugo Spadafora 25 years ago.
Vladimir Franco, head of legal affairs for the Foreign Ministry, said there is a need for patience.
“We must be sensitive to the sovereign decisions of that state,” he said.