In a space between the backrest and the seat cushion at the audience seats, a mobile phone was found which had time to record 23 minutes of a detention hearing that took place last spring.
It turned out that the mobile belonged to a 36-year-old man who left the phone in the courtroom after the court decided that the hearing should take place behind lighted doors, and the audience was asked to leave the room.
Shows how to record
For his help, the 36-year-old had a 30-year-old man who can be seen on surveillance footage instructing the 36-year-old on how to carry out the recording.
In one of the recordings, he can also be heard saying “just check that it doesn’t turn off after a minute”.
Sentenced to three months
It is illegal to secretly record conversations you are not participating in. The same law applies to negotiations, meetings or other meetings to which the public does not have access – such as a closed custody hearing.
Both men are now sentenced to three months in prison for illegal wiretapping and aiding and abetting illegal wiretapping. The 36-year-old denies the act, but it is unclear how the 30-year-old reacts to the accusations.