The case in summary Shefkije Tahirukaj was sentenced to 12 years in prison in a heroin case in 2003, but escaped from Norway to avoid losing her two young children. She lived in Kosovo for 17 years before she was arrested by the police in 2022. Shefkije is one of many who have been wanted for serving a prison sentence in the last 20 years, with 21,000 such requests issued by the police. Today, around 600 people are wanted because they should have served a sentence or served a fine that has not been paid. Shefkije regrets everything she has done, except for running away with her children. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It was a nightmare while awake, says Shefkije Tahirukaj (54). In 2003, Shefkije was sentenced to prison for 12 years in a heroin case. In both the district court and the court of appeal, she was found guilty of being the main man’s assistant. Before she was due to be sentenced, she had given birth to two small children. She began to think. Should she attend sentencing and risk losing the children to child protection, or should she escape with them out of the country? If she chose to escape, she knew there would come a day when she would have to do the penance. But she hoped it wouldn’t happen until the youngest child was 18 and of legal age. She also had three children from a previous marriage. According to Shefkije, they moved in with the children’s father because of the trial. The bus journey It is a December day in 2004. At the bus terminal on Grønland in Oslo, two adults and two children board a crowded bus. Suitcases and bags are crammed full of clothes and other belongings. It is clear that the family is not going on holiday. They are on their way to Kosovo. Almost 50 hours later, the family arrives in the town of Peja. Shefkije lived with her children in the town where she herself was born and raised. Photo: PrivatShefkije lived with her children in the town where she herself was born and raised. Photo: Privat Didn’t want to lose the children Before the bus trip, Shefkije had asked family and friends for advice. The answer she received was almost unanimous – meet for atonement. When she made up her mind, one thing was crucial to her. She was afraid she would lose her two youngest children forever. This photo was taken in Kosovo. Here, Shefkije’s children are five and six years old. Photo: Privat This photo was taken in Kosovo. Here, Shefkije’s children are five and six years old. Photo: Private Shefkije says that she did nothing to hide during the years she lived in Kosovo. – I had a car in my name, and I did not change my identity. She worked at a call center looking after the elderly to make ends meet. But she always looked over her shoulder for fear of being caught. Here is Shefkije with her son when he was four years old. Photo: Privat Here is Shefkije with her son when he was four years old. Photo: Privat Deep down she knew that the Norwegian authorities would one day find her. Shefkije is Muslim. She prayed to God. – Don’t let them come until my children come of age. Please. 21,000 wanted Shefkije is just one of many who have been wanted for serving a prison sentence in the last 20 years. 21,000 such requests have been issued by the police, figures from Kripos show. There are people who have not been told when they will serve time and people who have not appeared for time served. Most of the inquiries concern the latter. The largest single group of offenses among those wanted are violations of the Road Traffic Act. You may be wondering if Shefkije’s almost 17 years on the run from prison is a record in this country? It is not. What the record is is unknown. But, for example, Trøndelag police district has a person with a drug conviction who has been wanted since 1992. 600 are wanted now. Today, around 600 people are wanted because they should have served a sentence or served a fine that has not been paid. 48 of these are women. Oslo Police District has the most wanted Police District: Number of wanted: Oslo: 139 East: 78 Inland: 30 South-East: 108 Agder: 38 South-West: 44 West: 44 Møre and Romsdal: 19 Trøndelag: 31 Nordland: 34 Troms: 12 Finnmark : 21 Special agency: 17 Source: Kripos That the Oslo police district tops the statistics is not surprising. They are the largest police district with the most criminal cases. In addition to a wanted list, the police are actively working to find the people. – We do a lot of register searches and also in open sources out on the internet, among other things. We are also actively looking for people who are wanted, says police inspector Audun Kristiansen at joint prosecution in the Oslo police district. The Oslo police also tops the statistics on people who are wanted internationally in such cases. It applies to 11 people. In the other police districts, there are fewer than 5. If you do not turn up for sentencing, you can be punished with fines or imprisonment for up to three months. Considered signing up Shefkije says that she thought many times in Kosovo that she would sign up when both children turned 18. She says that she also talked to her family about signing up. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen She says that she also talked to her family about signing up. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen But that day never came. On a February day in 2022, Shefkije was arrested by the police outside his home in Kosovo. At the time, her youngest child was 17 and eight months old. – After the arrest, my brothers looked after the children and took care of them. The following month, she was on a scheduled flight to Norway. She first served time in Bredtveit before being transferred to Skien prison. From her prison cell, the 54-year-old regrets everything she has done, except for one thing. That she escaped with the two children out of the country. Today, the children live in Norway. Shefkije says that she has a close and good relationship with them. From the prison cell, Shefkije dreams of finishing her sentence and living a normal life with her family. Photo: Rolf Petter OlaisenFrom the prison cell, Shefkije dreams of finishing her sentence and living a normal life with her family. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen Hi Did you have any thoughts when you read this article? Feel free to send me an email! I have previously written, among other things: Do you have any tips for other matters I should look into? I treat all information confidentially. Please feel free to contact me!
ttn-69
600 people are wanted for serving prison sentences in Norway – Greater Oslo
