70-year-old jailed for falling asleep on train

Both police and the Eastern High Court now agree that his imprisonment was unjust

Shifa Rahaman

A 70-year-old Syrian man was unjustly sentenced to a 19-day jail term for falling asleep on a train from Kalmar to Malmø in Sweden, reports DR.

He was taken into custody on 16 March this year, and both police and the Eastern High Court have now declared that his imprisonment was uncalled for.

Last stop 
The man, who was on his way to a wedding in Malmø, failed to get off at the right stop and awoke to find himself near Kastrup Airport station instead.

He reportedly immediately bought a ticket back to Malmø, but was detained by Danish authorities – even though he was in posession of a Swedish asylum card. A judge ruled two days later that he would have to spend 19 days in prison because he represented a significant flight risk.

“He was deeply unhappy and confused,” his lawyer, Lise Holten, was quoted by DR as saying.

The man was sent back to Sweden on 5 April 2016. His lawyer now plans to seek compensation.

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