*** If you missed the whole Farine expired flour scandal, you can check out the wire we were furiously updating about it here. In summary; a whistle-blowing ex-employee at Farine alleged that Farine was using expired flour (Farine later confirmed this in a statement), and the authorities came down like a bag of hammers. Four employees, including Laurent Fortin, were arrested (we reported that he was a baker, but LinkedIn shows his position as consulting production director at the company since October 2016). Fast-forward to last week, when the petition was published by his brother, David Fortin. Here's the text (translated from the original French):
This petition was created by David Fortin, Laurent 's brother, to alert public opinion about the Farine Bakery scandal. My brother, the French employee Laurent Fortin, has been detained in Shanghai for 5 months. Summary of the facts: Since his arrival in December 2016, Laurent Fortin has complained about the hygiene regulations to the management, several testimonies from friends confirm Laurent's remarks and his desire to leave this company. The management had this answer: "We are a start-up, a steam roller, it is necessary to produce, PERIOD." March 20, 2017: Search by Chinese police. Took control of and stopped production. A stock of expired flour was discovered. March 21, 2017: The creater and leader of the group Farine Bakery is interviewed. March 22, 2017: The leader leaves for London claiming an important appointment in London (How could he leave ???). March 23, 2017: Chinese authorities return, the leader is no longer there, Laurent Fortin and 7 people are imprisoned. THEY NEED A GUILTY PERSON WHO SERVES AS SCAPEGOAT ON BEHALF OF THE BRAVE LEADER. WE IMMEDIATELY DEMAND THE RELEASE OF LAURENT AND THE REAL INVOLVEMENT OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
It seems the petition was launched against the wishes of Laurent, who preferred to avoid informing the media of his situation. However, after several attempts to establish contact and secure his release, including a plan to speak with the Mayor of Shanghai during a visit to France, his family has decided that their only option is to appeal to the public for support. The story was first broken by local French news sources, but it's been picking up traction internationally, too. His mother, Jeanne Fortin, has managed to communicate with him by mail, and says that Laurent, who arrived in Shanghai in December 2016, risks between 1 and 15 years in jail. He's been assigned a lawyer, whom he has reportedly met with twice in four months. According to the French Consulate in Shanghai, he is receiving consular support. There's been no word from Franck Pecol despite attempts to contact him. Seems like he's maintaining a low profile. Meanwhile, everything Franck is closed Most of the Farines are standing empty.
Farine on Wukang Lu
Farine Lab
... though Franck Bistro remains open. The name on the window now reads Bistrot De Tradition. Either way, we're told that Franck's no longer involved in that. The moment of publication, the petition is at 3,083 signatures. If there are any more updates, we'll post them here.
