French couple loses extradition appeal

French couple Alain Schmitt and Laurence Liegeois this afternoon lost their appeal from a court decision authorising their extradition to France.

The two are wanted in France to serve time for extortion, illegal arrest and violence against members of a sect.

Schmitt, 49, still has four years and 10 months left to serve of a jail term and his 47-year-old fiancée, Laurence Liegeois, has 15 months.

Their extradition was ordered by the Magistrates' Court after a European Arrest Warrant was issued last month.

It is not clear yet whether the couple will be extradited immediately since they still have a pending constitutional case over alleged violation of their human rights.