The prosecution will ask for time behind bars for the 19-year old accused of trying to force Jane Pedersen, the owner of Nørrebro watering hole Café Viking, to pay protection money.
The man is accused of telling Pedersen that he was a member of the local street gang Brothas and that they wanted money to guarantee the safety of Pedersen and her business.
"You live in our district, so you have to pay," he is alleged to have told her on August 13. Pedersen refused to pay.
After a brick was heaved through her pub’s window, Pedersen went public with her plight and received a massive outpouring of support form the local community, other Nørrebro business owners and the police. The cops said they hoped Pedersen’s bravery would encourage other business owners being extorted to come forward.
The man was arrested four days later, when he tried the same ploy at Café Heimdal, where police officers happened to be present.
In related news, Café Viking was vandalised again earlier this week when someone sprayed yellow paint on the front of the building. Pedersen said she was not sure if it was yet another warning from the gang or just a copycat.
“It's hard to say whether it has any relation to what happened before, “she told Jyllands-Posten newspaper. “But it will take more than a little paint to scare me.”
The trail against the alleged blackmailer is scheduled to begin at the end of November. He says he is innocent.
