Looking haggard and worn out by life, Eduard appeared before the Versailles District Court last week on charges of making malicious calls. This asylum seeker contacted the Yvelines fire brigade’s call centre ten times on 19 May. Not to alert them, but to insult them.
The man, who arrived in France two months ago, explains that he has been sleeping on the streets with his wife and daughter since last month. He reportedly called the fire brigade to ask for help, but the lack of a response apparently made him angry.
Ten malicious calls
He is then said to have called the 18 emergency number ten times to hurl abuse at them. His lawyer argues that the man believed he was calling a social services helpline to request accommodation. He simply wanted to keep his family safe. ’ “I am suffering from depression and have episodes of anxiety attacks,” the defendant’s interpreter transcribed, explaining why his requests turned into insults.
For their part, the civil party has not pressed charges and is seeking a symbolic one euro in damages. “We are trying to understand their reasons,” emphasises the call centre’s spokesperson. For these phone calls, the man has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence. He will also have to pay the symbolic one euro. Eduard is due to appear in court on 20 September in a similar case involving, this time, 147 malicious calls.