The story
Charles Sobhraj, known as 'The Serpent' for his ability to assume false identities, is a French serial killer and thief active in the 1970s. He targeted Western tourists in Southeast Asia, drugging and stealing from them before abandoning their bodies in remote locations. He was convicted of several murders, first in India, where he spent more than 20 years in prison. He was then arrested in Nepal after being recognized by a journalist during a business trip. Sobhraj has been the subject of numerous books and articles and is recognized by many as charming and intelligent.
The facts
On December 23, 2022, Charles Sobhraj was released from prison in Nepal after nearly 20 years behind bars.
He was transferred to France to undergo an open-heart surgery and was released in accordance with the Nepalese law allowing the release of bedridden inmates who have served at least three quarters of their sentence.
The Serpent's transfer as seen by Atish Patel, AFP photographer.
The information
Nepalese authorities were very careful and the security measures for Charles Sobhraj's transfer from his prison to the airport were foolproof: the use of multiple decoy convoys, the use of a lookalike and the lack of communication about the route taken by "The Serpent" were part of the plan to keep the transfer as discreet as possible.
Yet, despite this well concocted plan, Atish Patel, a photographer for AFP, managed the impossible: he was the only representative of a media outlet or press agency to board the same
Thanks to the joint efforts of the agency's teams in Asia, Atish was able to obtain the first images and comments from Sobhraj to a media outlet in years. This exclusivity was a real scoop for AFP, which once again demonstrated its commitment to capturing and telling the most captivating stories, by using any means necessary.
Behind the scenes
"It is interesting to speak with him, he is intelligent and well-informed, I understand how people can be attracted to him", Atish Patel said after his flight with The Serpent. "We talked about TikTok, the war in Ukraine, the World Cup, and even Xi Jinping's recent reprimand of Justin Trudeau over alleged leaks." Sobhraj did not shy away from conversation with the AFP journalist. Among other things, he talked about the 24-inch TV with 285 channels in his cell in Kathmandu and occasional access to a cell phone, an advantage other prisoners did not have.
However, he had less to say about the numerous murders and attempted murders of which he has been accused and, in some cases, convicted. He maintained one thing, however: his innocence. He explained to Atish that he "doesn't like being called a serial killer" and stated that he "intends to sue the BBC and Netflix" particularly after seeing parts of the hit series 'The Serpent' (which he didn't like). He will now focus his energy on one thing: clearing his name.