Danish taxpayers cover cost of prosthetics for pirate wounded in naval gunfight
A Nigerian pirate who sustained a leg injury during a confrontation with the Danish navy will receive funding from Denmark for his prosthetics and an "integration plan." Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Lucky Frances, a Nigerian pirate convicted of piracy, has received asylum in Denmark following extensive legal proceedings that have cost Danish taxpayers approximately $615,000, as reported by local media.
The 42-year-old was part of a gang of pirates that attempted to board the Danish frigate Esbern Snare in 2021 while it was conducting a patrol mission in the Gulf of Guinea, off Nigeria's coast. During the incident, four pirates were killed, and Frances was injured, suffering a gunshot wound to his leg, which ultimately led to amputation after he was brought to Denmark for medical treatment.
Although a Copenhagen court found Frances guilty of endangering the lives of naval personnel, he was not sentenced to prison due to his health issues. Initially expressing a desire to return to Nigeria, Frances later chose to seek asylum in Denmark, securing a residence permit in January of this year.
As part of the “integration contract” he signed, he has been provided with an education and employment plan designed to assist him in adapting to life in Denmark and the local job market. While his compensation request was denied, the court ordered the state to cover the costs for his new prosthetic limb.
This ruling has drawn criticism from opposition figures, especially Mikkel Bjorn, the spokesperson for the right-wing Danish People’s Party, who described the situation as “absolutely absurd.” He stated, “That man should never have been in Denmark, and to imagine that he can now be meaningfully integrated here is completely unrealistic.” Furthermore, he expressed doubts about Frances’s ability to contribute to society, asserting that he should be placed “in prison or in a closed immigration center.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has also voiced her disapproval, saying she “cannot defend this decision.”
Reports indicate that the litigation costs alone have amounted to $615,000 for taxpayers, with further expenses anticipated for Frances’s rehabilitation and integration efforts.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
The 42-year-old was part of a gang of pirates that attempted to board the Danish frigate Esbern Snare in 2021 while it was conducting a patrol mission in the Gulf of Guinea, off Nigeria's coast. During the incident, four pirates were killed, and Frances was injured, suffering a gunshot wound to his leg, which ultimately led to amputation after he was brought to Denmark for medical treatment.
Although a Copenhagen court found Frances guilty of endangering the lives of naval personnel, he was not sentenced to prison due to his health issues. Initially expressing a desire to return to Nigeria, Frances later chose to seek asylum in Denmark, securing a residence permit in January of this year.
As part of the “integration contract” he signed, he has been provided with an education and employment plan designed to assist him in adapting to life in Denmark and the local job market. While his compensation request was denied, the court ordered the state to cover the costs for his new prosthetic limb.
This ruling has drawn criticism from opposition figures, especially Mikkel Bjorn, the spokesperson for the right-wing Danish People’s Party, who described the situation as “absolutely absurd.” He stated, “That man should never have been in Denmark, and to imagine that he can now be meaningfully integrated here is completely unrealistic.” Furthermore, he expressed doubts about Frances’s ability to contribute to society, asserting that he should be placed “in prison or in a closed immigration center.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has also voiced her disapproval, saying she “cannot defend this decision.”
Reports indicate that the litigation costs alone have amounted to $615,000 for taxpayers, with further expenses anticipated for Frances’s rehabilitation and integration efforts.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
