Yassin Mebarkia, 30, died Monday, January 3 in intensive care hospital after being found in a coma by supervisors the day before.
A complaint for manslaughter was filed Tuesday, January 4 with a gendarmerie in the Lyon region, against the Villefranche-sur-Saône (Rhône) remand center, following the death of a detainee, learned the ‘AFP Thursday, January 6 with the companion of the latter.
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Yassin Mebarkia, 30, died Monday in hospital in intensive care, after being found in a coma by supervisors on Sunday, where he did not show up for the walk. “I wish to know what happened. I think something abnormal caused the death of my companion. I think he was not rescued properly», Explains Sylvia Lancelin, 30, from the region of Valence (Drôme).
“A co-detainee had reported his distress”
Her companion, placed in detention in September 2021 in Valence then transferred to Villefranche-sur-Saône on December 9, would, according to her, have fallen into a coma due to a lack of insulin, while he was suffering from diabetes. “The establishment was aware of his health situation. Several inmates told me that he had complained the night before, and that a fellow inmate had reported his distress. I do not understand that we could have left him for hours without intervention“, She affirms, specifying that she was not informed of the death by the establishment until Tuesday evening, without having been informed of the transfer to the hospital of her companion.
“She must be informed about the circumstances of the death. The investigation carried out by the prosecution“, To research the causes of death,”must establish the chronology of events, and ascertain whether any responsibilities are engaged», Adds Me Laura Bouremel, lawyer for the young woman. “A prison establishment has a security obligation. We hope the investigation will be completed», Continues the lawyer from Lyon.
Contacted by AFP, the regional directorate of the prison administration declined to comment.