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The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.combefore a court hearing. Still, on the bright side, French handcuffswere a lot more comfortable than British ones, and Ronnie had told methat French jails were not too bad.The traffic became more fluid as we left central Paris and we picked upspeed down the southern embankment. Turning suddenly left, we passedunder an elevated section of the metro and then abruptly right down asteep ramp into an underground compound.My captors hauled me out of the car, led me through a few dimly litcorridors and shoved me into a custody cell. I gave it two stars: notoilet, no window, only a wooden bench with a dirty blanket and nomattress or pillow. British police cells were a category above. Thefront wall of the cell was entirely reinforced glass, allowing theguards to watch my every move. My handcuffs snapped off and the heaviesordered me to strip, then handed back my clothes, minus my belt andwristwatch. Wordlessly, they left and locked me in. I sat down on thebench and put my head in my hands. I had no idea how long they wouldhold me, so prepared myself mentally for the worst.Perhaps an hour later they returned, handcuffed me again and escortedme down a short corridor into a windowless and stuffy interview room,lit by flickering neon lights. There was a long desk, behind which fivepolice officers sat, Ratcliffe amongst them, smiling triumphantly asthe heavies pushed me into a chair. Ratcliffe caught me glaring andspoke first. `You can't be surprised to see me here, Richard.'I knew that Ratcliffe was only doing his job and following orders fromon high, but it was difficult not to feel hostility towards him as theexecutor of this inconvenience. I ignored him and turned to the Frenchofficer who had overseen my arrest. `Je suis desol‚, mais je ne veuxpas r‚pondre … l'Inspector en anglais ici sans votre permis.' There wasno better way for an Englishman to annoy a Frenchman than by speakingEnglish on his territory, as Ratcliffe had done. If I spoke French, itcould only be helpful to my cause. His stern face cracked into a halfsmile and he introduced himself as Commandant Broisniard of the DST.Alongside him was Captain Gruignard, a new face who had not beenpresent at the arrest. He had a small laptop computer in front of him,used by the French police to record interviews instead of a taperecorder. Another SB officer, Inspector Mark Whaley, sat alongsideRatcliffe and between the British and French officers sat aninterpreter. In front of them, scattered across the desk, were mylaptop, Psion, mobile phone and various papers and faxes.`You have been arrested under the Mutual Assistance Act,' explainedBroisniard in French. This agreement obliges a foreign police serviceto arrest a person at the request of another police force, whatever thereason. It was a piece of legislation that was open to abuse and SBwere testing its spirit. Ì am sorry', he explained, `but we areobliged to arrest you.' He advised me to cooperate fully with thequestioning, assured me that Ratcliffe and Whaley were not entitled toquestion me directly and explained that the only language permitted inthe interrogation would be French. The SB officers could proposequestions via the interpreter but only he and Gruignard could directlyquestion me on French soil.page- 207 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com
The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.comAs Broisniard explained this, every now and again the interpreterparaphrased a few sentences into English for the benefit of Ratcliffeand Whaley. They tired of listening to the French, and in a lull,Ratcliffe interjected impatiently, `We think you may have used theinternet in breach of your probation conditions.' I ignored him, andreplied to Broisniard in French.`What did he say?' I asked, innocently.Broisniard's smile broadened. The interpreter translated Ratcliffe'squestion into French and Gruignard opened up the laptop and startedtyping. He seemed unfamiliar with a keyboard and typed using his twoindex fingers, pausing occasionally while he searched for a key, hislower lip mouthing the letters as he tapped them in. `Voil…', announcedGruignard finally, evidently pleased with his work. Èst ce-que vousavez utilis‚ l'internet,' he read out aloud, checking his handiwork.Broisniard put on his glasses and leant over to read the computerscreen. Èst ce-que vous avez utilis‚ l'internet,' he repeated to mesternly.`Jamais,' I lied emphatically.Ratcliffe remembered enough schoolboy French to understand and, eagerto get on with the interview, started to ask another question. ButBroisniard cut him off. Àttendez, attendez un moment,' he said,holding up his hand, and leant over the laptop to watch Gruignard typein my reply.Gruignard's lower lip quivered as he tapped out the letters J - A - M -A - I - S, his eyes scanning the keyboard for each key. Èt voil…,' hetriumphantly announced as he completed the word and hit the Ènter'key.Ratcliffe tried again to get in his question, but Broisniard cut himoff with a movement of his hand. It was the interpreter's turn to speaknext. He sat up from his slump with a jolt. `Never!' he translated.Broisniard looked satisfied and at last Ratcliffe could begin his nextquestion. `We believe you may have spoken to an Australian journalist,Kathryn Bonella, in breach of your probation terms.'I waited while the interpreter rephrased the question in French,Gruignard labouriously tapped it into the PC and Broisniard finally putthe question to me in his own language, all of which provided at leastfive minutes to think of a good answer. `Bien s–r, j'ai parl‚ …Mademoiselle Bonella quelquefois.'My response went back through the recording and interpretation process,while Ratciffe fidgeted impatiently. He sensed that he had got me whenthe English translation finally arrived. `What did you speak to herabout?' he demanded urgently. Again, the interpreter translated thequestion, Gruignard slowly typed the question into the PC andBroisniard put the question to me.Ùn emploi.' I replied and the process started again. Broisniard wasstarting to look irritated. Not with his officer's amateur typing or mypage- 208 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com
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