16 people attached here – all avoid fines – NRK Vestland

Party participants gathered on Saturday, November 14, in a community kitchen at Fantoft Studentby in Bergen.

In the municipality of Bergen, the law was violated at this time if there were more than five people in private meetings.

Therefore, the students risked between 5,000 and 10,000 kronor in fines each after the party. One possible outcome was a fine of NOK 10,000 to the organizer and a fine of NOK 5,000 to the participants.

Now the police have dropped the case because of the position of the evidence, and so everyone avoids paying.

– It’s a case that has given us some headaches, says prosecutor Gunnar Fløystad in the West Police District.

At the same time a case is closed, another 16 people will be fined after two more parties in Bergen. November 28 and the night of December 2, respectively.

Signs recommended to gather up to 20 people

During the investigation of the party at Fantoft, the police, among other things, have conducted several interrogations.

Whether the students who participated in the party knew that they violated infection control rules has been part of the investigation.

– This was a case that was very early after it became a crime to be so many. We also had reason to believe that they were based on information that the limit was 20. After an overall assessment, we decided to close the case, says Fløystad.

The reason why the party participants thought it was allowed to gather up to 20 people in the common area must be based on a sign hanging on the door.

The sign read: “It is recommended that a maximum of 20 people gather.”

Two days later, NRK visited the building where the party in question was held in the student town of Fantoft. At the time, there were still posters with outdated infection control rules in the building.

Sammen’s communications chief, Marita Monsen, admits that the poster hung there by mistake, but was removed when the case became known.

– In this case, an error occurred and the sign was still hanging outside a common room. As far as we know, the only sign left was hanging.

Monsen says both Sammen and the campuses had informed students about the new infection control measures. This must have happened via email and on social media.

She believes the Fantoft Studentby students have learned from the incident.

– We believe that this case has had a preventive effect. After the case became known, we have not had inquiries about large gatherings in any of our student accommodation.

Party participants in three other parties fined

The same night the students gathered at Fantoft, the police had to move to another party in Bergen. A total of 13 people who were at a party in Sandviken were fined a total of 70,000 crowns.

So far, five people have approved the fine.

Two weekends later, on Saturday November 28, police moved into an apartment in Loddefjord after a report of a party. Nine people in their 20s and 30s had gathered at the apartment. All those present have been fined by the police.

Seven other people who partied together in an apartment in Danmarks plass on the night of Wednesday, December 2, have also been fined. Here they are also fined between 20 and 30 years, according to the police.

– They have violated the Infection Control Act and the research we have conducted shows that there are many reasons to believe that they have done so deliberately, says Fløystad.