Four men in their 20s were convicted of sexual offenses in Bergen district court in June last year. One man was acquitted. In parallel with the court case, a separate legal process took place on social media. Names, addresses and pictures of the defendants were spread on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. In addition, posters were put up around Bergen where the men were identified. Such posters appeared in Bergen when the case went before the Hordaland district court. Photo: Privat The extra burden the exposure led to meant that the men who were convicted received a penalty discount on their prison sentences. Now it is ready for the first appeal case in the Gulating Court of Appeal. This time with extraordinary security measures. Implement several measures – We are aware of the challenges that were in the district court, and the Court of Appeal will, on the basis of this, implement several measures when the appeal case is to be processed, writes Director of Administration at the Gulating Court of Appeal, Kari Tepstad Utvær to news. She points out that photography and recording from the courtroom and common areas will not be permitted without special permission, and that the court will be very careful about this. In addition to stricter rules for the use of mobile phones, security in and around the courtroom has been strengthened “to avoid unfortunate episodes”. – It will not be arranged for a separate audience hall apart from the audience places that are in the courtroom, writes Utvær. Beyond this, Utvær does not wish to comment on what measures they have implemented. Prosecutor Benedicte Hordnes is familiar with the measures. She thinks it is understandable to have stricter rules for mobile phone use. – Based on experience from the last time, it should be avoided. It is a proper preventive measure, says prosecutor Benedicte Hordnes. Benedicte Hordnes is the prosecutor in the case. Photo: Valentina Baisotti Received a reduced sentence due to exposure Several of the five men who stood trial in the district court last summer have thousands of followers on social media. There they show off an apparently lavish lifestyle characterized by expensive cars, expensive watches and expensive alcohol. When the case started in the district court, many young people turned up to watch from an audience room. It is forbidden to film and take pictures of what happens in the courtroom, but one of those present defied this. He shared a photo and video from the trial. In two weeks, his TikTok videos received almost a million views. In the judgment against the four men, the court emphasizes that none of them are public figures. It states that because of the exposure, it will be difficult for them to live an “ordinary law-abiding life after serving their sentence, including in relation to future employers”. The court saw the exposure on social media in a mitigating way. The judgment also states that the five have been afraid of violence and afraid to go out, and that family and loved ones have also been affected by the spread. Defense attorney Ellen Eikeseth Mjøs will not comment on the case in advance. Aid attorney Hilde Cecilie Matre does not want that either. Several appeal cases In the previous court round, five men sat side by side on the prosecution bench. Three of them were accused of gang rape, three of them for gross sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl, and one of them for sleeping rape. Appeal cases are a little different: Here, not all cases are dealt with at the same time. First up is the rape for which a 25-year-old man has been convicted. Later, the group election case will have a new court round. There will be no appeal for the point concerning gross sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl, because the appeals have been withdrawn. The man was sentenced in the district court to three years and eight months in prison for rape and sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old. Six of the months were on probation. In addition, he was sentenced to pay NOK 255,000 in compensation. According to the judgment from the district court, it is this 25-year-old who was particularly affected by online trolls and persecution in the previous court round. The camel sentenced for sharing One of those who filmed and published a video of one of the condemned men is the artist Marcus Kabelo Møll Mosele, better known as “The Camel”. The artist Marcus Kabelo Møll Mosele, better known as “The Camel”, must pay NOK 20,000 for having filmed and shared a video of one of the men. Photo: Tom Øverlie / news P3 In the video, he filmed the 25-year-old inside a petrol station, followed him inside the premises and referred to him as a “pedophile”. He also said “What are you saying? Do you like raping children?” to the man who was then accused. The video was shared on Instagram. Screenshot from Kamelen’s Instagram story. Photo: Facsimile / Linnea Skare Oskarsen Kamelen was charged and in January this year received a fine of NOK 20,000 for this. Kamelen has previously told news that he would not comment on the fact that they received a penalty discount because of the exposure. – I only think briefly, so I can say that this is a human being, those concerned, who are trying to play influencers. Part of the reason for having so many eyes on you is that you also get that it boils over in social media. That is what I have to say, he said.
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The assault case in Bergen became a circus in social media – unusual security measures in the appeal case – news Vestland
