A Saint Lucian man has been extradited to Martinique to face a murder charge, and Commissioner of Police Verne Garde has served notice that the island will not be a haven for fugitives trying to evade justice.
Garde confirmed to St Lucia Times that Fabian Cherubin was extradited to Martinique on February 27, following an official request from the French territory, in compliance with an extradition treaty between the two countries.
Cherubin was wanted for his suspected role in the kidnapping and killing of a French woman.
“This is not the only extradition that we’ve done. We’ve done several of them in the past… and I’m certain that this extradition will not be the last,” Garde told St Lucia Times.
Issuing a warning to those who might seek to use Saint Lucia as a hideout from the law, he added: “Saint Lucia will not find itself in a position where we are harbouring persons in conflict with the law in other countries that share this kind of extradition treaty. So, there’s no place to hide in Saint Lucia in regards to offences done in other countries….
“As long as we share that extradition treaty, we will do what we have to do within the confines of the law.”
Garde stated that all legal protocols were followed in processing the extradition request made by French authorities. The order was given by Magistrate Bertlyn Reynolds, and Cherubin had the opportunity to appeal the decision before he was extradited.
He had escaped prison while awaiting the outcome of his appeal, but was subsequently captured.
The wanted man had been arrested by police during an operation in Gros Islet in February 2021, in connection with a series of burglaries.
The crimes were allegedly committed after he was deported from Martinique to Saint Lucia in September 2020, following his imprisonment for robbery. Authorities in the neighbouring island later issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a murder case.
