top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Tramp has lived at airport 26 years

Court told that 46-year-old speaks like a child and lives off scraps from rubbish bins and petty theft

A MAN who has lived, homeless, in Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport for the past 26 years has been jailed for a month for stealing an iPod from a passenger’s car.

Ismaël Nohou’s life was revealed at Bobigny court after his 11th appearance in court for theft and other minor offences at the airport.

An offender rehabilitation group, Apcars, investigated and found that he had been sleeping in the underground car park at Terminal 2B to be near the restauarant and hotel rubbish bins. It was like a real-life scene from Steven Spielberg’s 2004 film The Terminal, based on a tramp at a New York airport.

Nohou’s lawyer, Azia Mumtaz Taj, said he could sometimes be persuaded to try a homeless hostel away from the airport, but soon returned. Roissy was his home.

He said that the 46-year-old, whose family were from the Comores, had left home in Melun at 17 after a row and apart from doing his military service had been at Roissy ever since, living off scraps from the bins and petty thefts from cars.

Mr Mumtaz said that Nohou spoke like a five-year-old and could only say Yes, No or I don’t know – although he would gladly accept a cigarette if offered.

Judges had ordered a psychiatric report but this morning he was released from jail after serving his time while awaiting a verdict.

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
Featured Help Guide
- Primarily aimed at Britons, covers pensions, rent, ISAs, shares, savings and interest - but also contains significant general information pertinent to readers of other nationalities - Overview of online declarations + step-by-step guide to the French printed forms - Includes updates given automatically after this year's site opened
Get news, views and information from France