Hamse Ali’s legal aid lawyer, Hilde Cecilie Matre, says the case is an example of things going too fast. – It should never have happened in such a case. In this case, it has obviously been a mistake, the police have probably realized that themselves. The reactions have not been long in coming after Hamse Ali was subjected to serious violence in Nygårdsparken. The incident happened on 21 September and after only one week the case was dropped by the police. After several media reports, the police received a tip and reopened the case nine days after the incident. They then tried to retrieve video surveillance from a nearby company, but the recordings had been deleted. The recordings were deleted due to privacy laws. The police are now being criticized for not asking about the videos earlier. This is what Hamse Ali looked like after the incident in Nygårdsparken. Photo: PRIVAT – There have obviously been mistakes Matre hopes it is not too late to repair the mistakes. She emphasizes that there is a lot of good investigation. – But things have gone crazy here, she says. Matre believes that video material should have been brought in earlier. – This is violence that could have ended in murder. It is “lucky” that it was not worse. Next week, Ali will be interviewed again, according to the legal aid lawyer. She has sent several questions to the police. Among other things, that they should collect information about which mobile phones have been active in the area. – Based on other cases I have had, this can contribute to clarifying incidents of violence in the public space and should be tried here, she says. The incidents in Nygårdsparken sparked major reactions and over 2,000 people gathered in a demonstration against racism on Thursday. Photo: Christel Higraff / news The police believe they concluded correctly Police attorney Per Øyvind Valland at the West police district says that they have registered that there has been some criticism in the case. He says the patrol that went to the site after the incident made investigations for technical traces and looked for witnesses or other traces, such as video. – The conclusion of the patrol on the site was that, unfortunately, there was nothing, in their opinion, that could contribute. When they reopened the case after a tip from a company that told them they had some surveillance. It turned out that the footage had been overdubbed. – We had a review of the cameras that covered the company’s area. The conclusion was that even if we had managed to secure video from the night, they would not have been able to show us anything. Photo: Steffen Johan Johnstad / news – But could you have brought in video surveillance earlier if you had not given up so quickly? – When we are to obtain technical evidence of any kind, it must be connected to and relevant in such a way that it can be seen that this can contribute to clarifying the case, he says and continues: – At that time it was considered that it wasn’t. And after further review, that assessment proved to be correct. Questioning the police City council representative in Bergen Amina Ali Amin (Ap) participated in the torchlight procession and spoke in front of the anti-racism marking. To news, she questions the police’s handling of the case. – You must of course be careful about criticizing the police investigation before you know all the facts in the case, she says. Amina Ali Amin said in the appeal that she has known Hamse all her life. Photo: Christel / Higraff – But the fact that it took the police nine days before an attempt to obtain video surveillance gives reason to ask whether the police have done what should be done here, Amin continues. City councilor for child protection, social services and diversity, Charlotte Spurkeland (H), thinks it is unfortunate that the police dropped the case early. – The city council will raise with the police that we believe it is important to investigate hate crimes. She says that the demonstration on Thursday was incredibly moving. Møhlenpris resident and initiator of the commemoration against racism, Synnøve Fluge, says that it was a shock when the case was first dismissed. – It was a bit of a painful realization when it happened. When it resumes, it’s almost a bit like that you might say: it was just supposed to be missing. Dependent on tips – We have a hope and a strong desire to clear up this case, says Valland. The police are still dependent on tips. Ali has said that six people attacked him. The police prosecutor is absolutely certain that some of them have told about the action further. – We think there are people in the city who know something. They must come to us with that knowledge. He states that they have asked technicians to make an assessment of what would be possible to get out of telecom data. They do this before they decide whether it is relevant to secure this. – When you look at the case now, is there anything you could have done differently? – I think we will make that assessment when we consider the case to have been fully investigated, concludes Valland. Published 04.10.2024, at 18.58
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