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| Swedish journalist faces trial for helping a Syrian boy enter Sweden Swedish journalist faces trial for helping a Syrian boy enter Sweden | |
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| A Swedish TV journalist is to face trial for people smuggling after helping a Syrian boy migrate from Greece to Sweden, an offence punishable by imprisonment. | A Swedish TV journalist is to face trial for people smuggling after helping a Syrian boy migrate from Greece to Sweden, an offence punishable by imprisonment. |
| In the spring of 2014, Fredrik Önnevall was filming a documentary about European nationalist parties’ response to the migration crisis when he met 15-year-old Abed in Greece. Along with two colleagues, Önnevall helped the boy enter Sweden. | In the spring of 2014, Fredrik Önnevall was filming a documentary about European nationalist parties’ response to the migration crisis when he met 15-year-old Abed in Greece. Along with two colleagues, Önnevall helped the boy enter Sweden. |
| The Swedish Prosecution Authority said on Wednesday that Önnevall and his colleagues had “during the period of May-June 2014 intentionally helped a foreigner pass through Greece … [to] Sweden despite the fact that the person was missing a passport or any other permission required to enter these countries.” | The Swedish Prosecution Authority said on Wednesday that Önnevall and his colleagues had “during the period of May-June 2014 intentionally helped a foreigner pass through Greece … [to] Sweden despite the fact that the person was missing a passport or any other permission required to enter these countries.” |
| The journalist, a presenter for the Swedish public broadcaster SVT, who along with his two colleagues could face up to three months in prison, has pleaded not guilty. | The journalist, a presenter for the Swedish public broadcaster SVT, who along with his two colleagues could face up to three months in prison, has pleaded not guilty. |
| “I regret absolutely nothing. I know what we did and I would have done the same today,” Önnevall told SVT in March when he was called for questioning over people smuggling. “How can I regret helping a terrified boy begging for my help?” he said. | “I regret absolutely nothing. I know what we did and I would have done the same today,” Önnevall told SVT in March when he was called for questioning over people smuggling. “How can I regret helping a terrified boy begging for my help?” he said. |
| Broadcast nearly two years ago, the documentary sparked a wave of sympathy among Swedes as well as anger, prompting complaints over the Syrian boy’s entrance to Sweden. | Broadcast nearly two years ago, the documentary sparked a wave of sympathy among Swedes as well as anger, prompting complaints over the Syrian boy’s entrance to Sweden. |
| “[He] was a 15-year-old boy in danger and in need of help,” Önnevall told SVT on Thursday. | “[He] was a 15-year-old boy in danger and in need of help,” Önnevall told SVT on Thursday. |
| “The prosecutor clearly does not make this judgment, but the legal experts I have spoken to say this doesn’t constitute a crime,” he added. | “The prosecutor clearly does not make this judgment, but the legal experts I have spoken to say this doesn’t constitute a crime,” he added. |
| However, Kristina Amilon, a prosecutor in charge of the case, said that “just helping someone cross a border into a European country” is constituted as illegal immigration and therefore an offence. | However, Kristina Amilon, a prosecutor in charge of the case, said that “just helping someone cross a border into a European country” is constituted as illegal immigration and therefore an offence. |
| “I had no excuse to not do it, no one else could help him. I also realised that it was a decision I would have to live with for the rest of my life,” Önnevall told Swedish daily newspaper Expressen last year. | “I had no excuse to not do it, no one else could help him. I also realised that it was a decision I would have to live with for the rest of my life,” Önnevall told Swedish daily newspaper Expressen last year. |
| Önnevall has asserted that he did not act as a smuggler because neither he nor his colleagues accepted any money. | Önnevall has asserted that he did not act as a smuggler because neither he nor his colleagues accepted any money. |