Police in the northern city of Bodø have dropped charges against the Labour Party’s deputy leder, Bjørnar Skjæran, and seven other Labour politicians after they were caught partying in an expensive hotel suite last weekend. Police cited a legal clash between state and local regulations aimed at preventing the spread of the Corona virus.
Skjæran and the others who gathered after the Nordland Arbeiderparti‘s annual meeting have all apologized for ignoring strict state anti-infection measures that ban most all socializing.
Local rules at the time, however, allowed indoor gatherings of up to 10 people. As a result of that, police felt compelled to drop charges and all involved will avoid fines of as much as NOK 10,000 to NOK 20,000.
Skjæran told state broadcaster NRK that his apology still stands, adding that “we shouldn’t have met like that and I should have stopped the party when I arrived.”
newsinenglish.no staff
