The trial against Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson due to take place in Norway on September 1, has been cancelled because Watson was not presented with the new charges while under arrest for 80 days in the Netherlands, the Norwegian News Agency NTB reported on August 22.
Earlier, the Dutch authorities had stated that Watson had in fact been charged, but on Friday afternoon, the Lofoten Islands Police were informed that this was not the case. "We were told that 13 pages sent over by the Norwegian police, including the subpoena, had been presented to Paul Watson, but not the charges themselves," said police inspector Eivind Tesaker to the NTB.
The charges against Watson include negligent navigation which in turn
led to the collision between his ship "Whales Forever" and the
Coast Guard vessel "Andenes" on July 4, 1992; refusal to leave
Norwegian waters on the orders of the coast guard; and transmitting false
alarm signals. In addition, the Norwegian Navy would have been seeking
compensation to the amount of NOK 854,000 (approx. US$ 120,000) plus interest,
but the limitation period for these demands expired
on July 6 of this year.
Watson was held in custody in the Netherlands for 80 days, or two thirds of the 120 day unconditional prison term he had been sentenced to for his participation in the attempted scuttling of the combined fishing and whaling vessel "Nybrænna" in 1992.
For further information see the HNWeb News articles dated April 4, April
23, May 31 and June 26.