Yet another young Norwegian man remains caught up in what Norwegian and British police consider “crime as a service,” in which criminal organizations hire young men and boys over online services to carry out shootings or otherwise threaten those in debt to the organizations. In this case, an 18-year-old from Stavanger faced charges at the famous Old Bailey court in London Thursday, after sitting in England’s Belmarsh Prison since last spring.
The young man is specifically charged for carrying a weapon illegally and for being hired by a criminal organization to use it. He was arrested at a hotel room in Huddersfield March 19, where he was in possession of two firearms.
He sat in a glass cage inside the courtroom while his parents from Norway followed procedures from the gallery. At one point, according to newspaper Aftenposten, their eyes met and his parents waved to him. They’re trying, so far unsuccessfully, to get his case transferred to Norwegian courts, which would likely be more lenient than in the UK, but British authorities are resisting any change of venue.
The young defendant denied charges that he was hired by any criminal organization but had to admit to possession of firearms and ammunition. His trial isn’t expected to begin until next summer.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
