Nice, France: A French farmer who has become a symbol of Europe’s migrant crisis after helping Africans to slip into the country was given a suspended fine of €3,000 ($3,200) yesterday and said he would never stop assisting those in need.
Cedric Herrou, 37, was convicted for illegally helping migrants across French-Italian border right under nose of cops.
The sentence is far lighter than the eight-month suspended prison term that prosecutors had requested.
Prosecutors had also wanted his vehicle to be confiscated and restrictions placed on his driving licence limiting him to using it for his work. The court rejected both requests.
Herrou was unrepentant after the verdict, saying migrants from poor countries still needed his help and that he would continue to give it.
“We will continue to act and neither the threats of officials or one or two politicians will stop us,” he said.
“It will only be a victory when we don’t have to do this anymore and I can go back to my normal life and my work,” he added. Herrou was found not guilty of putting up around 50 migrants from Eritrea in an abandoned holiday camp.
