French farmer who helped migrants cross from Italy gets suspended fine

NICE, France (Reuters) - A French farmer who brought illegal migrants into France from Italy was handed a 3,000 euros (2,559 pounds) suspended fine on Friday for his actions. Cedric Herrou, from the Roya valley region on the border between the two countries, has became a household name in France - applauded by some for his conduct while criticised by others. Immigration is a hot-button French political issue in a presidential election year, with many voters worried by the influx of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa. Herrou has been lauded as a hero, however, among people who see what he has done as a purely humanitarian gesture, and he has vowed to continue his actions. The Nice prosecutor had asked for an eight month suspended sentence. (Reporting by Matthias Galante; Writing by Andrew Callus; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)