On Friday, Arfan Bhatti’s imprisonment meeting was held behind closed doors in the Oslo District Court. The prosecution requested that he be imprisoned for four new weeks. He is charged with complicity in terrorism after the mass shooting in Oslo on 25 June 2022. According to his defender, Bhatti was prepared to explain himself in court. She says he reacted strongly to the decision to close the doors, thereby shutting out the public. – He saw no point in explaining himself to the court when the public is denied access to what he has to say, says defense attorney Inger Zadig from Elden Advokatfirma. According to the defender, Bhatti believes that the media is being refused to exercise its role as a watchdog, and that he is critical of how the Norwegian authorities have handled the matter. The Oslo District Court decided to remand Bhatti for four new weeks, with a ban on letters and visits. He can still be visited by his children. The defender: Disproportionate custody Inger Zadig believes there is no reason to keep Bhatti in custody, and calls it disproportionate. The reason is, among other things, what she calls “the inhumane conditions” he experienced when he was imprisoned in Pakistan. – Partly the time that has passed, combined with a weak evidence photo, says Zadig. Defense attorney Inger Zadig says her client wanted to explain himself in front of open doors, and was disappointed when he was not allowed to do so. Photo: Fathia Mahmoud Farah / news The prosecution fears that Bhatti may evade further investigation or destroy evidence if he is released. They have asked for custody for four new weeks with a ban on letters and visits. The defender believes there is no risk that Bhatti will avoid further investigation. – It is primarily because Bhatti believes he is innocent and that he has a good case. Then it will be natural for him to appear in court and argue for his innocence, rather than spend the rest of his life on the run. Therefore, Zadig also believes that Bhatti will stand trial, even if he is now acquitted. – Even if he has previously fled to Pakistan? – There is no reason to claim that he has. He has been on a long-planned holiday with his children. It was well known to the Norwegian authorities that he was in Pakistan, Zadig replies. Bhatti was extradited to Norway in May 2024. By then he had been in Pakistan since June 2022, and dozens of court hearings were held in the country before he was extradited. Hopes to finish the investigation in November Out of consideration for the investigation, police prosecutor Ingvild Myrold will not say anything about what steps are still to be taken. – It’s a big puzzle where we look at all the pieces in the case, she says. Police prosecutor Ingvild Myrold will not say anything about what steps are left in the investigation. Photo: Fathia Mahmoud Farah / news The police prosecutor also says that it is too early to say whether an indictment will be brought. She still believes that the police will finish the investigation before the end of the year. – The investigation is actively proceeding and we have come a long way. I still believe that it is realistic that it will be completed by the end of November. Because of this, Inger Zadig believes that there is no danger of Bhatti destroying evidence. – I think that there is no evidence to lose sight of. He has no interest in falsifying evidence, she says. The court disagreed with that, and points out, among other things, that there is a particularly high risk of evidence linked to witnesses in Pakistan being destroyed. – It is the court’s assessment that Bhatti has a real and concrete opportunity to falsify evidence in the case, among other things by influencing witnesses. In the court’s view, there is also a preponderance of truth that he will take advantage of this opportunity, the decision states. Published 01.11.2024, at 14.32 Updated 01.11.2024, at 14.45
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Bhatti dissatisfied with explaining behind closed doors
