The founder of the French firm responsible for a global health scare involving sub standard breast implants has been released from jail after spending eight months incarcerated for unpaid bail charges.
73 year old Jean-Claude Mas was charged in January this year for causing grievous bodily harm and jailed in March. His release comes just months before he is set to go on trial for his part in the breast implant scandal.
Mas had previously admitted that his firm sold implants which were made from non-authorised silicon gel. It is thought as many as 500,000 women had implants made by PIP, including a Scottish mother who died following a rupture in her PIP breast implant.
Trisha Devine is spokeswoman for the PIP Implants Scotland campaign groups, she said: “We feel thoroughly let down that Jean-Claude Mas has been freed from jail and could potentially flee the country before he stands trial for his part in the implant scandal. We have been going through hell and this just adds to the anger and yet more disappointment. This man has to take responsibility for the thousands of women’s lives he put at risk and that day can’t come soon enough for me and the other Scottish victims.”
Thompsons Partner Patrick McGuire added: “This is a health scandal on a global scale and Thompsons along with many others have campaigned long and hard to get answers. The thought that this individual could potentially flee before he stands trial suggests serious flaws in the system”.
Four other officials from the French firm Poly Implant Prothese will go on trial along with Mas in April next year.
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