Detention numbers and court appearances

Approximately one hundred people were detained during the events of October 17, but only thirteen cases were presented for immediate court appearances on Monday, October 19, and Tuesday, October 20, at the Toulouse judicial court.

Sentences for theft and violence

Six individuals were sentenced to prison terms for theft, violence, or rebellion. These heavy sentences serve as a warning ahead of the second act of the social movement, scheduled for October 24.

A three-month sentence for a down jacket

A three-month prison term for a down jacket. The first case related to October 17, which was heard on Tuesday, set the tone for the day. Immediately, the presiding judge, Fabrice Rives, described "a context of riots, looting, and near civil war."

The defendant's actions and claims

In this atmosphere, Mario-Rafael appeared for the theft of a down jacket from a store in the city center, which was damaged during the demonstration. While in custody, he stated that he did not participate in the demonstration.

Admission and regret

At the trial, the 20-year-old, born in Romania, with his hair combed back and a small mustache, admitted and expressed regret for the actions: "I didn't think." For the prosecutor, who admits that the damage caused by the young man is "limited," he acted out of opportunism: "He did not commit any damage, but a theft. He did not have the courage to damage the store himself, but he took advantage of the situation."

Defense arguments

Mario-Rafael's lawyer, Me Johana Abraham, called on the court to consider the facts being judged. "I rarely felt so afraid before hearings because of the context. I heard the statements of the justice minister who celebrated the provisional detentions. Yes, you will judge a context. But above all, you must judge Mr. and only him, based on the facts that are attributed to him. Those who are the most violent are not here, they are used to it, they know how to handle it."

The sentence and its implications

While the prosecution had requested six months of prison with a conditional release and 105 hours of community service, the young man, despite his clean criminal record, was sentenced to three months in prison with a deposit order. "We cannot leave the city to the looters," stated the president after reading the sentence.

Reactions to the sentence

Mario-Rafael was handcuffed at the bar and taken to the court's jail. "It's violent, it's a sentence as an example," reacted Me Abraham, speaking to Mediacités, who announced that she would request a sentence adjustment or conditional release. "More broadly, I am outraged by the decisions that have been made. Any sentence can be pronounced without justification and without personalization. The events of October 17 are being sanctioned as part of a single..."