It all started with an abduction in Bergen.
Friday 26 April at 18:15
On Tuesday evening, March 19, the police received a report that a man had been taken in a car against his will somewhere in Bergen.
Large resources were mobilized. A few hours later, the man was found unharmed in a car and sent home by the police.
This is what police attorney Jørgen Henriksen tells VG. Bergens Tidende mentioned the case first.
That same evening, five men were arrested. Two of them were found with the victim at the scene, and three in another place in Bergen, Henriksen says.
They are charged with deprivation of liberty and robbery.
The police later received information that the victim was staying illegally in Norway, as he had been expelled from the country.
– A day later, on the night of Thursday 21 March, he was arrested in a car. In that car, the police found a significant amount of cash, NOK 2.2 million, says Henriksen.
The police’s own photos show several piles of cash tied together with rubber bands, in a blue cloth bag.
The man now has the status of both being offended in the abduction case, and being charged with gross theft and breach of the entry ban.
– He has pleaded guilty, but so far has not wanted to explain himself to the police, says Henriksen.
Ola Bårnes at Advokatfirmaet Hasle defends the man.
– He has pleaded guilty to both items in the charge, he did so in the previous prison meeting. He has not been questioned yet, but has not ruled out that he will explain himself, says Bårnes to VG, and adds,
– According to the conditions, he is doing well.
Police prosecutor Henriksen informs BT that the investigation is coming to an end, and that a trial will probably only come up in the autumn.
Four of those accused of the deprivation of liberty are in prison. The fifth is still charged and has pleaded guilty, but has been released.
The man who has been released is being defended by Knut-Erik Søvik. He informs VG that his client pleads guilty to deprivation of liberty, but does not wish to comment on the case beyond that.
