A man was abducted in broad daylight in the normally peaceful village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat earlier this month and beaten by two assailants, the criminal court in Nice heard four days after the event.
There was no political context, but a settling of scores over an unpaid debt between a former boyfriend and girlfriend.
The victim of the attack had demanded the repayment of 20,000 euros, the court was told, and when he became overly insistent the alleged debtor called on two friends to abduct him and beat him up.
The victim claimed he was beaten unconscious by his attackers, while his ex claimed he had ‘fallen.’
CCTV cameras supported the theses that there had needed been an abduction and assault.
In the end, the court found three defendants guilty and sentenced each to eight months in jail, suspended.
PHOTO: Peaceful Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a magnet for Ukrainian exiles