Manuel Noriega Jailed In France

Hours after arriving to France, former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega was judged a flight risk and remanded to La Santé prison to await trial.

“I don’t agree with the action against me,” he said of judge Jean-Michel Maton’s decision through a translator, although he reportedly spoke little and appeared tired during the hearing.

Former inmates of La Santé prison, in Paris’s XIV arrondissement, include convicted terrorist Carlos the Jackal, Russian revolutionary Victor Serge, Japanese cannibal Issei Sagawa and Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon.  The prison, built in 1867 and designed by architect Emile Vandremer, has both VIP and high-security districts.  In the VIP area, prisoners held in individual cells equipped with beds, washbasins and toilets and 2,000 square-foot exercise courtyard.

The trial date will be decided on May 12.

La Santé Prison drawing