Zurich court expels man with fake sports team from the country
Published: Wednesday, Jul 3rd 2024, 10:30
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On Wednesday, the District Court of Bülach ZH punished a 45-year-old Cameroonian man with a conditional prison sentence of two years and a six-year ban from the country. The Cameroonian had traveled to Switzerland in January 2024 with a group that he had posed as Cameroon's national handball team.
On arrival at Zurich airport, the 45-year-old explained that he was on his way to the Africa Cup in Egypt with his team. However, he was not a handball player, according to the indictment.
This was merely a pretext to obtain the necessary documents. By providing false information, the accused enabled the 19 people to enter Switzerland without a visa.
17 of the immigrants then traveled on to France and went into hiding there. Two stayed in Switzerland, applied for asylum - and then also went into hiding.
"A moment of confusion"
He was to receive 2,500 euros for his service, the accused told the B?lach District Court. The man works as a sports teacher and is employed by the Cameroonian handball association.
It was a moment of confusion that caused him to deviate from the straight and narrow. "I wanted to help my little brother, who suffers from epilepsy." He was part of the tour group and had traveled to France for treatment.
By accompanying the alleged national handball team, the 45-year-old was guilty of qualified promotion of unlawful entry into Switzerland and unlawful residence. The man has been in prison since January. He will now be released, handed over to the migration office and allowed to leave the country.
Great effort made
"We are in the realm of highly professional migration crime," the judge stated in her brief reasoning. Real passports had been used and a great deal of effort had been made to make the group look like a real national handball team.
"In view of the confession, however, a sentence of two years seems appropriate." The trial took place in summary proceedings. The man therefore confessed and agreed with the prosecution's proposed sentence.
In addition to the conditional custodial sentence and expulsion from the country, the sentence also provides for the confiscation of 22 passports. These will be handed over to the cantonal police. They will use them for training purposes at their document examination center.
©Keystone/SDA
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