The trial of the man accused of kidnapping a UN representative is suspended

The trial of the man, who is accused of kidnapping the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, has been suspended in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, a republic of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus.

This happened because the 26-year-old defendant, Sergei Chochuyev, a citizen of Tskhinval (South Ossetia, republic in the territory of Georgia) fell ill with hepatitis, the RIA Novosti correspondent was told on Thursday in the press service of the Supreme Court of North Ossetia.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Vincent Cochetel, a Frenchman, was kidnapped in January 1998 in Vladikavkaz. The members of the criminal group kidnapped Cochetel from the flat which he had leased.

For two days the kidnapped was kept in a garage and then was taken to Chechnya where he was sold to field commander Arbi Barayev. The kidnappers demanded five million dollars for releasing him.

Vincent Cochetel was freed in December 1998 as a result of a special operation of the Russian Interior Ministry.

The criminal case with regard to the other participants in kidnapping was stopped in connection with the death, specified the press service.