A 30-year-old was given a lenient and suspended sentence on Monday for using a prohibited laser, which he aimed at a military helicopter.
The Super Puma pilots were able to carry out the rest of the flight despite being targeted by a laser.
Swiss army
Two minutes: This is the time during which two pilots of a Swiss army Super Puma helicopter were hampered during a training flight in February 2019 over Lake Walenstadt. Targeted by a laser beam, they immediately alerted the authorities, who were able to identify a 35-year-old German, who had aimed the laser at the helicopter from the roof of his accommodation. The pilots were not injured and were able to complete their flight without incident.
The German, on the other hand, appeared before the district court in Mels on Monday. The Public Prosecutor requested an eight-month suspended prison sentence and, in particular, an expulsion for five years from Swiss territory. Not very talkative during the short hearing which the pilots did not attend, the defendant however explained that he would apologize “in person to the pilots if they were there”.
A fault considered slight
His lawyer asked that he be acquitted of the assault offense since the pilots had not been injured. Since the flight was not disrupted, the traffic obstruction should not be retained either, according to him. The same with the disruption of a military service: the defendant did not even know that the helicopter was an army vehicle.
The judge validated his reasoning. Nevertheless, the German was convicted for possession of a prohibited laser. Deeming the fault slight, the Court sentenced the 30-year-old to a 20-day fine. “During the proceedings, you showed understanding and repentance. Accordingly, the sentence is suspended,” he said. Moreover, expulsion from the territory cannot be ordered.
(leo / ywe)