PARIS // French police yesterday arrested Jean-Claude Mas, the founder of the PIP breast implant company that sparked a global health scare by using substandard silicone.
"Jean-Claude Mas was arrested at 7am and taken into custody" on the orders of an investigating judge, the Marseille prosecutor, Jacques Dallest, said.
He said the arrest was made in connection with a manslaughter investigation opened by prosecutors in Marseille in December and that Mr Mas could be held in custody for up to 48 hours.
A police source said Mr Mas was arrested at the home of his companion in the south of France.
Mr Dallest said police were carrying out a search of his companion's home, in the town of Six Fours, for evidence in the case.
Prosecutors said police had also arrested Claude Couty, another former executive at the now-defunct Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), in southern France.
Mr Mas's lawyer, Yves Haddad, said of his 72-year-old client: "He is not well. He is tired and he is waiting for his doctor."
PIP was shut down and its products banned in 2010 after it was revealed to have been using industrial-grade silicone gel that caused abnormally high rupture rates.
Fears over its implants spread globally late last year after French health authorities advised 30,000 women to have their PIP implants removed because of the increased risk of rupture.
Between 400,000 and 500,000 women around the world are believed to have received PIP implants. An unknown proportion are made with substandard gel which the firm, once the world's third-largest silicone implant producer, used to cut its costs.
Germany and the Czech Republic have followed France in recommending that the implants be removed as a precaution but Britain has said it will not follow suit.
French officials have also said that cancer, including 16 cases of breast cancer, had been detected in 20 French women with the implants, but have insisted there is no proven link with the disease.
In interviews, Mr Mas has confirmed the implants were made with a non-authorised silicon gel but rejected any suggestion that they pose a health risk.
Philippe Courtois, a lawyer representing women who received the PIP implants, said he was encouraged by Mr Mas's arrest but did not expect his story to change.
"Considering the outrageous statements he has made in regards to all the victims, we do not expect very much from this hearing."
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
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Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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