Norwegian son seeks mother’s prison transfer from China due to health concerns

A shocking reunion. Jørgen Wikne, 27, describes his first meeting with his mother in over six years as overwhelming. This encounter took place in late April at a women’s prison in Guangdong, southern China, where Norwegian citizen Yimin Dong, 58, has been incarcerated since March 2018. She was sentenced for smuggling Norwegian salmon into China via Vietnam. Now the family is requesting a transfer to serve her sentence in Norway.

Jørgen Wikne was alarmed by his mother’s deteriorating health. Yimin suffers from cervical spinal stenosis, which has left her with significant mobility issues, including paralysis in her arms and legs. During their visit, he noticed she moved very slowly and cautiously, frequently mentioning her loss of sensation and control.

Originally from China, Yimin moved to Norway in the 1980s as an exchange student and married Bjørn Wikne. Together, they had Jørgen and established Yimin’s successful salmon business linked to SalMar, one of the world’s largest salmon producers.

Yimin was arrested in March 2018 under harsh conditions, accused of leading a smuggling network. Initially sentenced to 14 years, her term was later reduced to 13 years on appeal. Tensions have arisen since there is no contact between Yimin’s family and SalMar, leading to conflicting accounts regarding her alleged involvement in the smuggling.

In August, Yimin was hospitalized and required surgery due to severe health complications. Despite a successful operation, her future remains uncertain, and medical personnel emphasize the need for her to receive appropriate rehabilitation, which would be better arranged in Norway.

Jørgen hopes that the appeals for her transfer will be realized so she doesn’t have to endure another six and a half years in prison, stating he believes it is not too much to ask.