It was the logical continuation of the investigation. More than a week after the disappearance of Lina, who has given no sign of life since Saturday September 23, 2023, the public prosecutors of Strasbourg and Saverne announced Sunday October 1, 2023 the opening of a judicial investigation For “for kidnapping or confinement for more than 7 days”, relayed BFMTV, the same day. The Saverne public prosecutor’s office announced that it was relinquishing the case in favor of the Strasbourg public prosecutor’s office, given the complexity of the investigation. Two investigating judges from the Strasbourg judicial court were jointly seized of the procedure. After seven days of investigation, the investigation did not make it possible to find the teenager. Thus, it switched to judicial information, as required by procedure. But what does that change in terms of the investigation?
More resources put in place
As part of the opening of a judicial investigation, the investigation is then handed over to one (or more) specialized investigating judges. The latter hold more extensive powers than the prosecutor, for example, who may be subject to authorization to carry out certain requests. On July 18, 2023, BFMTV said a little more about this criminal procedure. “Judicial information makes it possible, for example, to carry out searches without people’s consent, to carry out seizures, surveillance operations or wiretapping – which can also be longer or be carried out without authorization from a judge of freedoms and detention”, our colleagues then explained. “The investigating judge(s) can also request expert opinions (DNA) or use geolocation devices. They can also go to the scene or organize a reconstruction of the facts.” A procedure which should perhaps speed up the investigation, while investigators continue to check the cars deemed suspicious one by one. A house was also sealed on Sunday October 1st. A disappearance which plunged the town of Plaine into real anguish.