Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson was released from prison on Friday, June 20, with a new indictment in his kit bag. "They handed out the charges Thursday afternoon or Friday morning," says the public prosecutor spokeswoman in Harlem, Netherlands, Tine Zwiers, to the High North Web News. The writ served to Watson just before his release, pertains to his ship's collision with the Coast Guard vessel "Andenes" in 1994.
Watson was held in custody 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. "If Watson had served his sentence in Norway, he would automatically
have been released after 80 days," Nordland County Public Prosecutor,
Geir Fornebo, told the newspaper 'Aftenposten' on May 29, 1997. Norway
had requested Watson's
extradition in order for him to serve his sentence. There is, however,
no longer any basis for extradition and the request will be withdrawn,
Fornebo told NTB after Watson was set free.
The new trial is due to take place on September 1 at Lofoten County Court in Norway. Watson can be convicted even if he does not attend the trial, police inspector Elisabeth Kaas in the Lofoten Islands told the Norwegian News Agency NTB on June 19. Norwegian authorities have had great difficulties in finding Watson and deliver the new indictment. For this reason the court case has been delayed twice.
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; refusing to leave Norwegian waters on the orders of the coast guard; and transmitting false alarm signals. In addition, the Norwegian Navy will be seeking compensation to the amount of NOK 854,000 (c. US$ 120,000) plus interest.
Paul Watson was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on April 2, while travelling from Germany to the US. On March 31 he had been arrested in Germany, but was released the following day. In March, the Norwegian authorities issued a warrant for Watson's arrest via Interpol and the arrests were implemented on the basis of the warrant.