Trafficker sentenced

47 refugees in the hold and two years in prison

Symbolic image(Bild: EXPA/ JFK)

An accused trafficker (21) made a confession at the trial in Salzburg Provincial Court: he wanted to smuggle 53 Turks through Austria for financial reasons. The police caught him and he is now to serve two years behind bars.

The accused was allowed to briefly hold his four-month-old baby in the presence of a security guard and give his girlfriend one last kiss before the judge called the start of the trial at the regional court on Wednesday.

Public prosecutor Francesco Obermayr then spoke of the crime of smuggling: "Due to his financial situation, he joined a criminal organization in October and was ordered to pick up 53 Turks from Budapest." The refugees, including eight children and even a baby, were crammed into the van in a very small space: "Without water and food," the prosecutor emphasized. Police officers wanted to check the vehicle near the Schwarzenberg barracks in Salzburg. But the 21-year-old accelerated and even rammed into a police car. There were also injuries as a result.

Overwhelmed with father role 
The defense lawyer spoke of a "huge mistake": "He was overwhelmed by his role as a father." After the confession, the previously blameless German defendant said: "I'm sorry, I regret it. I thought I was doing something good. In the end, I caused people harm."

The court did not impose a legally binding sentence of two years' unconditional imprisonment: "This is needed as a deterrent," said the judge, underlining the "high social unworthiness" and the "inhumane" transport conditions.