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In the message, Helgheim is threatened with a notorious gang, among other things.
The FRP politician has a public and private Facebook account, and uses the public very actively for political statements and exchanges of views.
Helgheim explained in the Oslo District Court that in the spring of 2020 he had noticed that the defendants’ comments were “rubbish and contained inappropriate words and phrases.”
Helgheim wrote to him directly and asked him to moderate. After this, Helgheim heard nothing before the message on the private Facebook account on the morning of June 15 last year:
They weren’t friends on Facebook, but when Helgheim sends a message, he can reply to Messenger as well.
Hello, Jon Helgheim. has noticed your total indifference, and RACISM IN NORWAY has exposed you quite well the last days! You are nothing but an old-fashioned nasty and tired racist! A foreigner must have beaten up your lady in elementary / middle / high school, ugly nasty gora! You have to be careful what you get out of your mouth! You are not a head of state so you have not hired bodyguards !! You have to represent people and people are diverse. Keep talking shit and we’ll see what me and the guys from 313, young blood, 187, do when we see you in town next time. Your nasty lassaron, your brunette is my bitch / my whore ».
“Suitable for creating serious fear”
Helgheim perceived the content as a threat and contacted PST.
– I experience that the vast majority, although they can be both rude and provocative, understand the difference between being severe in the field of comments and messages and presenting threats, Helgheim tells NRK.
When the 23-year-old was arrested, police found a sawed-off shotgun, 19 shotgun shells, a baton, 4.32 grams of MDMA and 8.88 grams of cannabis.
As for the message from Messenger, the court has no doubt that it was threatening. They especially stick to the phrase “Keep talking shit and we’ll see what me and the guys from 313, young blood, 187, do when we see you in town next time.”
The defendant denies criminal guilt for the threats.
But the district court finds that it was a threat within the meaning of the law.
“In addition to 313, Young Blods and 187 are groups known for serious violent crimes, and by referring to them, he warned of a possible physical attack on Helgheim,” writes District Court Judge Marianne Trætteberg.
“The threat was also made in a context with various aggressive and harassing results. Therefore, it was definitely suitable for creating serious fear, “continues the judge.
Helgheim: – Uncertainty for the family
– Trying to threaten others into silence is very serious. It threatens the entire democracy and it is also a threat to the recruitment of political processes and if we lose confidence and security around democracy then it is really bad, says Helgheim.
– We would like to have heated debates, but when you bow to threats, you have to respond and it is very important that people know where that line is going. And it’s not hard to know where things are going for the vast majority, Helgheim believes.
He says that he does not allow himself to be pressured or threatened with silence, on the contrary.
But he acknowledges that it is affecting the family.
– Children read about this and experience what happens around them, and it generates insecurity in the family. But as a politician, I have been prepared for something like this to happen. And if that happens, I will never be pressured to change my mind, moderate, or do something based on threats.
Same paragraph as in the Bertheussen case
The court believes that the defendant has been shown to be aware of Helgheim’s role as a parliamentary representative and is therefore sentenced under article 115.
This is the same section for which Laila Bertheussen was convicted. Like that case, the Helgheim case was about whether he was hindered or influenced in his business.
“The court does not consider it doubtful that this was the case in the present case. In a police questioning, XX (defendant) also stated that the aim of the report was for Helgheim to” open his head and think better, “it says in the verdict.
Former judge
The verdict states that the defendant has been convicted six times before, among other things, for violating drug laws.
The court observes that in the years 2018-2020 he was found guilty of a total of six infractions of Penal Code § 263 (threats) and five infractions of Penal Code § 155 (violence or threats against a public servant).
Threats against politicians are something the Supreme Court has stated that strong action must be taken.
The defendants were sentenced to ten months in prison, and the most serious conditions were attacks on the activities of the highest state bodies, threats, violations of the Firearms Law and illegal storage of drugs.
He is also sentenced to confiscation of a sawed-off shotgun, 19 shotgun shells, a baton, a sealed-action revolver, a Finnish hood and an iPhone.
HEARD: State Attorney Geir Evanger is very pleased with the verdict.
Photo: Martin HW Zondag / NRK
State Attorney: – Significant reaction
State Attorney Geir Evanger says he is very satisfied with the verdict and notes that there is not much practice for “such an isolated threat in an exchange of words.”
– Send a signal that public speaking is healthy with a fresh debate, not so healthy with a bullying debate, but you have to put up with it. But when you cross a line and there are threats, there should be a strong reaction right away, Evanger says.
– How aggravating is it that the convict had weapons?
– It is aggravating, the Supreme Court has already said something about it. Now we don’t have a direct relationship between the threats against Helgheim and these weapons, but there will be a sharpening in about two months. And it’s clear that it’s an aggravating circumstance and fitting for concern that he actually had a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition, Evanger responds.
Defender Ole Magnus Strømmen tells NRK that he has not yet been in contact with his client. Therefore, you will wait to comment on the verdict and a possible appeal.
