A man from Estonia who released in mid-November On charges of loitering at Sveti Jeronim Airport, he was arrested again, this time begging for money from passengers. The Municipal Misdemeanor Court in Split sentenced him to 15 days in prison and banned him from Split, Kaštela, Solin, Trogir, Omiš and Sinj for six months.
The 38-year-old man had been living in a car parked at Sveti Jerolim Airport since July, and was arrested on November 26 at around 21 p.m. That afternoon, around 15:30 p.m., he approached a man conducting a bomb screening at the airport, introduced himself, and demanded 2 to 5 euros.
"He said he was in trouble, that his bank accounts were blocked and that he was waiting for a friend to bring him money," the witness said.
From acquittal to conviction in 12 days
Ironically, the man was acquitted of the same charges in mid-November because the court could not prove that he was begging or vagrant. The November 15 ruling stated that police had never found the Estonian "asking for money from passengers or showing signs of begging" and that he was "neat and well-groomed in appearance". The court concluded that his access to the airport "is not restricted in any way, especially if he does not commit any violations".
But just 11 days after that verdict, on November 26, the police found him in the very situation for which he had previously been acquitted - begging for money. During questioning, he defended himself by claiming that as a "member of the royal family, he does not have to report his stay to the police." He explained that the hotel in Trogir did not accept him because they did not recognize the payment via "new technology for which there is no evidence of payment."
When the police officer questioned him, he called her an idiot. He claimed in court that he did not say "you are an idiot" but "you are acting like an idiot," but the judge concluded that both formulations were equally insulting and belittling to the police officer.
The court found that he violated three laws, namely failure to report temporary residence (fine 20 euros), insulting a police officer (five days in prison) and vagrancy because he sleeps in a vehicle, has no means of living and frequently changes his place of residence (ten days in prison). The total sentence of 15 days in prison has already been served because he spent that time in custody.
Chain of violation of prohibitions
He has already been convicted of a misdemeanor - in mid-October he received a protective order to remove him from the Split area, which he did not respect, and was given a suspended sentence. He was found on November 18 in Trogir, and then on November 26 at the Split airport. Now he must leave all of the aforementioned cities within 24 hours of being released from prison. If he returns without a valid reason, he risks a fine of up to a thousand euros or up to 30 days in prison. He maintained his personal hygiene in public toilets in shopping malls, and stated in court that he was waiting for compensation "because he was unjustifiably detained as a member of the royal family" and that he wanted to travel to Barcelona.
Photo: Canva/kreativa portal.hr
