THE Department of Justice has confirmed that two French magistrates are in the country to investigate the whereabouts of former senior Elf Aquitaine oil executive Alfred Sirven. Magistrates Eva Joly and Laurence Vichnievsky are investigating Sirven, who fled France in 1996 after his boss, Loik Le Floch-Prigent, was detained for alleged fraud while he was head of the French oil giant between 1989 and 1993. “South Africa will co-operate with the [French] team to ensure that those who have tried to escape the justice system by coming to South Africa will have to stand trial,” a Justice Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, adding that South Africa has extradition laws in place that could facilitate Sirven’s expulsion.