EUROPE-MIGRANTS/FRANCE TURKEY Husband of suspended French consul denies wife sells rafts to migrants
Record ID:
139961
EUROPE-MIGRANTS/FRANCE TURKEY Husband of suspended French consul denies wife sells rafts to migrants
- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/FRANCE TURKEY Husband of suspended French consul denies wife sells rafts to migrants
- Date: 12th September 2015
- Summary: BODRUM, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 12, 2015) (REUTERS) TURKISH AND FRENCH FLAGS FLYING OUTSIDE THE STORE OWNED BY SUSPENDED HONORARY CONSUL FRANCOISE OLCAY ENTRANCE OF THE STORE TURKISH FLAG FRENCH FLAG CANOES ON THE WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) HUSBAND OF SUSPENDED HONORARY CONSUL FRANCOISE OLCAY, ENGIN OLCAY, SAYING: "This matter is not related to our company. This is a problem between the French consulate and the honorary consul here (in Bodrum)." SIGN OF HONORARY FRENCH CONSULATE (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) HUSBAND OF SUSPENDED HONORARY CONSUL FRANCOISE OLCAY, ENGIN OLCAY, SAYING: "She has nothing to do with this incident. She tries to do her own work." SIGN OF HONORARY FRENCH CONSULATE CANOES AND BOATS ON DISPLAY
- Embargoed: 27th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACW8NDDD8TN38S0M9MJUIX4Z08
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The French government has suspended its honorary consul in Turkey's coastal resort city of Bodrum after she was caught on camera saying the store she runs sells inflatable rafts used by would-be migrants.
France 2 television aired footage from a hidden camera on Friday (September 11) showing the woman, Francoise Olcay, with her face blurred, acknowledging that selling the rafts was tantamount to France's honorary consul helping fuel human trafficking.
But speaking to journalists on Saturday (September 12), her husband Engin Olcay denied the accusations.
"This matter is not related to our company. This is a problem between the French consulate and the honorary consul here (in Bodrum)," he said.
"She has nothing to do with this incident. She tries to do her own work," he added.
France's honorary consuls are allowed to have a paid job in addition to representing the country in secondary cities as volunteers, according to the ministry.
Hundreds of migrants and refugees, many fleeing the war in Syria, make the short crossing every day from Turkey to reach EU territory on Greece's eastern islands, including Kos and Lesbos.
The International Organisation for Migration said on Friday an estimated 309,356 people had arrived by sea in Greece so far this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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