Man with 16 prior convictions passes Zurich Airport security without boarding pass

A 34-year-old Swiss man has been sentenced to 60 days in prison for bypassing security at Zurich Airport without a boarding pass. The incident occurred in May 2025 when the man attempted to proceed through security in Terminal 2 without the required document.

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I am being treated unfairly!

Airport staff repeatedly directed him to obtain a boarding pass before proceeding. Despite these instructions, he passed through the security checkpoint. He was later charged with trespassing and other offenses. The court in Bülach handed down the unconditional prison sentence due to the man's extensive criminal record, which includes 16 previous convictions since 2019.

The accused, who has African roots and arrived in Switzerland in 2005, stated that he was trying to fly to a football match in London and believed he had a ticket. He has been serving a prison sentence since October 2025 for similar offenses, primarily converted fines and penalties. He claims he is being treated unfairly and that his sentence feels like it is constantly multiplying.

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It feels like my sentence is constantly multiplying.

He attributed the airport incident to misunderstandings and communication problems. The court also considered other trespassing charges, including entering a secured area at the "Swiss Skills" exhibition in Bern despite a previous ban. The man expressed difficulty in coping with his imprisonment and questioned how his life reached this point.

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I can't understand how it could have come to this.