Presidential pardon

French prisoners Céline Faye (right) and Sarah Zaknoun, being flown by helicopter - accompanied by French Junior Minister for Cooperation and Francophonie, Alain Joyandet - from the prison in Santiago, to Santo Domingo, following their release yesterday.

French prisoners Céline Faye (right) and Sarah Zaknoun, being flown by helicopter - accompanied by French Junior Minister for Cooperation and Francophonie, Alain Joyandet - from the prison in Santiago, to Santo Domingo, following their release yesterday. The two French women walked free from jail in the Dominican Republic thanks to a presidential pardon after 18 months behind bars for drug smuggling. Ms Zaknoun, 19, and Ms Faye, 20, who had been sentenced to eight years in jail last year after being found with six kilograms of cocaine in their luggage, spoke by telephone with French President Nicolas Sarkozy after being released following a Christmas pardon.

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