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Swedish teen charged for pocket change extortion

TT/Clara Guibourg
TT/Clara Guibourg - [email protected]
Swedish teen charged for pocket change extortion

A 15-year-old boy who threatened to beat up a 13-year-old school mate if the latter didn't hand over 20 kronor ($3) is set to appear in court in Gothenburg to face extortion charges.

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The eighth grader demanded 20 kronor ($3) from a school mate two years his junior, at a school in Gothenburg, promising violence against the 13 year-old boy if he didn't hand over the cash.

The 15-year-old was given the 20 kronor-bill the following day, but flush with confidence from his first successful blackmail attempt, he overplayed his hand.

Later that same week, the eighth grader went up to the same boy and asked "When are you going to give me my money?" in a second extortion attempt, the local Göteborgs-Posten (GP) newspaper reported.

This caused the 13 year-old victim to take matters to the school officials, who chose to report the incident to the police.

"He said, 'I'm going to hit you.' He's raised his hand, but never hit," the 13-year-old told GP.

The older boy has now been charged with extortion.

He has confessed the crime, stating that he 'deeply regrets' his actions, according to the newspaper.

However, he denied any physical assault.

"I've grabbed his cheeks maybe 10-20 times. Almost every time I've seen him. But just as a joke," said the 15 year-old to GP.

The budding blackmailer stated that he has changed his ways since speaking to the school's principal.

"Since that talk, I've hung out with good friends, and also performed much better in school," he told GP.

Nevertheless, he will soon stand trial for the crimes with which he's been charged.

The 15-year-old has also paid back his ill-gotten 20 kronor-bill.

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