The then 50-year-old man entered Norway via Svinesund on Monday 3 April. He declared the cargo as plastic articles. When the customs officers checked the Polish-registered semi-trailer, they discovered 11,232.5 liters of beer and 10,000 cigarettes, which he had not intended to declare. He knew nothing, he claims before the Søndre Østfold district court. He also claimed that he had not noticed that the load was 13 tonnes and not 1 tonne, as it should have been according to the papers. Over 11,000 liters and 10,000 cigarettes were seized. Photo: Tolletaten Conspicuous ignorance One of the witnesses explained how the weight is felt while driving. The court thus finds it unlikely that the defendant did not notice that the load was significantly heavier than he first assumed. The court noted that the semi-trailer was fully loaded and sealed when the defendant collected it. The defendant did not check the load, either visually or otherwise. During the trial, he explained that the company he works for undertakes assignments for many different clients. He takes the driving assignments assigned to him by the boss. He explained that the boss sent him word on when and where to pick up cargo. This is common practice: the defendant drives, while the company takes care of the logistics and the agreements. – Wants to get home He claimed that he trusted the information he received that the shipment consisted of various plastic articles. “After the evidence, the court cannot rule this out, even if the defendant’s behavior appears striking,” writes Søndre Østfold district court in the judgment, which was handed down on 7 July. The prosecutor submitted a request for six months’ imprisonment and that he should be deprived of the right to drive a motor vehicle in Norway with a driver’s license for good. The court took a slightly more lenient view of it. He was sentenced to 120 days in prison, in addition to being banned from driving in Norway for two years. The man’s defender, Bjørn Philipson, says that the man is “naturally dissatisfied with the verdict”. – He has not pleaded guilty. But he is not appealing the sentence, he says. ARCHIVE PHOTO: The man’s defender, Bjørn Philipson, says he is not appealing the sentence. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news It is common for convicted foreigners to be deported from Norway as soon as the sentence becomes final. – Now he has been in custody for so long that he just wants to go home. If he appeals, he must stay in Norway even longer. He doesn’t want that. The only thing he wants is for the sentence to become legally binding, so that he can finish his sentence, be deported and get home. says Philipson.
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The smuggler was not believed by the court – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
