16-year-old sentenced for “Vipps robberies” targeting children in Oslo

A 16-year-old has been sentenced for his involvement in a series of so-called “Vipps robberies” in Oslo, where young victims were coerced into revealing their mobile banking details. The robberies, which took place over a few days, involved multiple children being targeted at once, with victims as young as 12 years old.

The young offender was convicted of seven instances of these robberies, among a total of 22 counts that included assault and robbery attempts against 19 boys. He has admitted guilt for all charges except one attempted robbery. The court found him guilty on all counts, leading to a six-month prison sentence, followed by two years of youth rehabilitation upon release.

The prosecutor expressed satisfaction with the sentence, noting that it aligns with calls for appropriate consequences for juvenile offenders. The youth rehabilitation will focus on individual needs, potentially including education, employment, and community services.

While the 16-year-old’s defense attorney acknowledged awareness of the ruling, further discussions were held to ensure he fully understands its implications. Furthermore, the investigation into alleged sexual assault involving the same youth is ongoing; he denies these charges.

This case also highlights the involvement of younger accomplices, aged 12 to 14, who are not subject to prosecution due to being below the criminal age of responsibility, which is set at 15 in Norway. Consequently, child protective services have taken over their cases to ensure proper follow-up and care.