Huge fines for asylum activists

Arrival Center Finnmark outside Kirkenes.Photo: Jan-Morten Bjørnbakk / NTB scanpix

Three of the asylum activists who  were arrested by the police in Kirkenes in winter, have been fined 22,000 kroner each, according to NRK news.

They were arrested on 21 January while trying to help asylum seekers to flee the Arrival Center Finnmark outside of Kirkenes.

The three were held in custody for around two and a half hours before they were taken in for questioning.  They were then charged with violating the Immigration Act section 108, fourth paragraph, of helping a foreigner to stay in Norway illegally .

– If they do not accept the fine, the case will end up in court, police operations manager Svein Erik Jacobsen  said to NTB in January.
One of the activists, Merete Eriksson, said to NTB after the arrest, that she was shocked by how she was treated by the police   .
– It is simply surreal. I can not see that I have done anything wrong, she said.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today