Comedian and artist Kristian Valen has been sentenced to 120 days in prison for breaching the Weapons Act. The Oslo District Court also decided to confiscate five weapons and two batons from Valen. However, there are several sealed weapons, stun guns, and weapon accessories that were not confiscated by the court’s judgment. Valen believes he is entitled to get these back, but the police have refused.
Valen’s lawyer, Bernt Heiberg, argues that according to the Criminal Procedure Act, the seized weapons that were not confiscated must be returned to Valen. The police have tried to keep the weapons by going to court, but they have been unsuccessful in both the Oslo District Court and the Borgarting Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal ruled that there is no basis in the Criminal Procedure Act to prevent the extradition of the weapons to Valen. The court also stated that the police’s argument that the weapons can be kept in criminal proceedings is incorrect.
Valen is satisfied with the outcome and has regained some faith in the legal system. He plans to turn the situation into humor and something positive that he can share with his audience on stage.
However, despite the court order, the police can still try to keep Valen’s weapons. This is because there has been a new weapons law since the seizure, which may entail new regulations and licensing requirements for certain types of prop weapons. Valen’s lawyer explains that they are discussing with the police’s administrative unit which parts of the seizure are affected by the new law. They believe that they should receive receipts for the props that have been legally sealed by the police.
It is unclear how many weapons this applies to, but Valen’s lawyer believes that the majority should be sent to Valen. However, the administrative process may take some time, as the Weapons Office has a long processing time.
When asked about the weapons, the police attorney in the case and the Section for administrative control at the Oslo police district have declined to comment. The content of the administrative decision regarding the handover of the objects is confidential, according to the senior communications adviser in the Oslo police district.
Why are the police attempting to hold onto Valen’s weapons despite the Court of Appeal’s ruling
Comedian and artist Kristian Valen has been handed a 120-day prison sentence for violating the Weapons Act. The Oslo District Court has also seized five weapons and two batons from Valen. However, there are a number of sealed weapons, stun guns, and weapon accessories that were not confiscated as part of the court’s ruling. Valen is now fighting to have these items returned to him, but the police have refused to comply.
Valen’s lawyer, Bernt Heiberg, argues that under the Criminal Procedure Act, any seized weapons that were not confiscated must be returned to Valen. The police have attempted to retain the weapons by taking the matter to court, but their efforts have been unsuccessful in both the Oslo District Court and the Borgarting Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that there is no legal basis in the Criminal Procedure Act to prevent the return of the weapons to Valen. Furthermore, the court stated that the police’s argument that the weapons can be retained for use in criminal proceedings is incorrect.
Valen is pleased with the outcome and has regained some faith in the legal system. He plans to turn the situation into a source of humor and something positive that he can share with his audience during his performances.
However, despite the court’s order, the police may still attempt to hold onto Valen’s weapons. This is because there has been a new weapons law implemented since the seizure, which may entail new regulations and licensing requirements for certain types of prop weapons. Valen’s lawyer explains that they are currently in discussions with the police’s administrative unit to determine which parts of the seizure are affected by the new law. They believe that they should receive receipts for the props that have been legally sealed by the police.
It remains unclear how many weapons this applies to, but Valen’s lawyer believes that the majority should be returned to Valen. Nevertheless, the administrative process may take some time, as the Weapons Office has a lengthy processing period.
When questioned about the weapons, the police attorney in the case and the Section for Administrative Control at the Oslo police district have declined to comment. The senior communications adviser in the Oslo police district has stated that the content of the administrative decision regarding the handover of the objects is confidential.
“Comedian Kristian Valen’s battle to have his confiscated weapons returned raises important questions about individual rights and responsibilities. However, it’s crucial to consider the potential risks involved in allowing anyone, comedian or not, to possess dangerous weapons. Striking a balance between personal liberties and public safety remains a challenging task.”