The district court sentenced three of the men to grave antiquities crime and one to aiding and abetting antiquities crime, to community service and a fine.
The verdict was appealed to the Court of Appeal, which now changes the sentence for the three men who were convicted of grave antiquities crime to prison.
The length of the prison sentence is set at one year and four months, one year and two months and one year, respectively.
– In its assessment of the criminal value of the crimes, the Court of Appeal has taken into account, among other things, that violations of ancient monuments can often lead to damage that cannot be repaired, because valuable cultural historical information is destroyed and the crime can be said to target a collective cultural heritage, says Court of Appeal Councilor Christer Ganelind.
The sentence against the man who was convicted in the district court for aiding and abetting grave antiquities crime is essentially fixed.
Salvaged artefacts over seven years
Between the years 2013-2020, the men salvaged quantities of artefacts from shipwrecks off the coast of Öland. They have also decorated their homes with objects from the bottom of the sea. There are also notices in a dive logbook indicating that the men dived as early as 1987.
Denies crime
The men have denied any crime, but admit in questioning that they picked up objects that they believe are loose finds from the bottom of the sea. They also say they did not resell any of the items.
SVT is looking for the men’s defense lawyers for a comment.