Case summary Two Chilean men are charged with human trafficking and forced labour, and are suspected of having exploited a 14-year-old for theft. The men were arrested at Bergen Airport Flesland, and are now in custody until 8 November. The men deny criminal liability for human trafficking, and have been in preliminary interviews with the police. The police are investigating what relationship the 14-year-old has with the two men, and say that the boy is being taken care of by child protection in Norway. One of the men has previously been registered in Norway, but the police will not comment further on this. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Two Chilean men in their 20s and 30s were first arrested for theft at Bergen Airport Flesland on Friday. They must then have been on their way to their homeland. With them was a 14-year-old, who is offended in the case. On Saturday, the men were remanded in custody until 8 November, charged with theft and human trafficking, where the police suspect forced labour. – The two who have been arrested and remanded in custody are also charged with theft. So the forced labor is linked to that, says police inspector Sylvia Myklebust in the West police district to news. – Do I understand you correctly that the 14-year-old should also engage in theft? – That is the hypothesis of the police, says Myklebust to news. The men were initially questioned by the police. According to the defenders Tore Johan Sørland and Einar Råen, they do not admit criminal liability for human trafficking. – Now there is a charge for human trafficking, which is a serious penalty. We take the matter seriously and investigate thoroughly, says Myklebust. Registered in Norway before At the weekend, the defenders told news that the two accused are friends, who had been on a holiday in Europe and were about to fly home when they were arrested. On Saturday, the two were banned from writing and visiting and partially isolated from each other. The police believe there is a risk of evasion and destruction of evidence. Myklebust says it is the circumstances surrounding the case that led to the two being charged with human trafficking. – The general circumstances surrounding what happened and the people involved, and information about it, says Myklebust. Police inspector Sylvia Myklebust in the West police district. Photo: Gerd Johanne Braadland / news The police do not want to reveal the nationality of the 14-year-old. They are investigating what relationship the 14-year-old has with the two men. – Have you traveled in other countries before you came to Norway? – They probably have, and then through investigation I have to try to map where they have been before, says Myklebust. She says the police know the one man from before. – The one man has previously been registered in Norway, without me commenting anything more on that, says Myklebust. Being taken care of by child welfare services According to the boy’s lawyer, Kjetil Ottesen, the boy has not yet explained himself to the police.He wrote to news that his client is being taken care of. This is confirmed by police inspector Myklebust. – The police have spoken to him, but have not had a formal interview yet, says Myklebust. She does not want to comment on what the boy said in the conversation, and says they will question the offended party as soon as possible. This will take place as arranged above. – There are also other investigative steps in addition, says Myklebust. She says the 14-year-old is being taken care of by child protection in Norway. – Will there be a collaboration with the child welfare services where he is from? – It is too early to say yet, says Myklebust. Published 14.10.2024, at 13.09
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The police believe the 14-year-old was taken to steal – news Vestland
