Along with Mr Breteau, they are Emilie Lelouch, Philippe van Winkelberg, Alain Peligat, Agnes Pelleran and Christophe Letien.

BBC: Zoe's Ark trial: Head of French NGO 'was manipulator'

Mr Breteau, a former volunteer firefighter, set up Zoe's Ark in 2005, initially to aid victims of the December 2004 Asian tsunami.

BBC: Two French charity workers jailed in 'false orphans' case

Eric Breteau, founder of the Zoe's Ark group, is accused with five others of attempting to fly 103 children from Chad to France illegally in 2007.

BBC: Zoe's Ark trial: Head of French NGO 'was manipulator'

She portrayed Mr Breteau as an "all-powerful manipulator" who had convinced her at a meeting in Paris that his mission in Chad would rescue Darfur orphans find them homes in France.

BBC: Two French charity workers jailed in 'false orphans' case

For Eric Breteau, "children had to be brought back at any price", she told the court, adding that she believed he was under "a certain pressure" from the families wishing to adopt the "orphans".

BBC: Two French charity workers jailed in 'false orphans' case

Mr Breteau and Ms Lelouch, who had been living in South Africa, refused to attend the start of the trial in early December, reportedly saying they had "no wish to give an account of themselves".

BBC: Two French charity workers jailed in 'false orphans' case