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Fritzl police gullible - minister Austria to change sex crime law
(about 4 hours later)
Austria's justice minister has admitted police were too quick to believe Josef Fritzl, the man who imprisoned and raped his daughter for 24 years. Austria's chancellor has said the country will adopt tougher laws on sex crimes following the case of a man who imprisoned his daughter for 24 years.
Maria Berger said Mr Fritzl's account that his daughter ran away to join a cult was not sufficiently questioned. Josef Fritzl has admitted holding his daughter captive in the cellar of the family home, repeatedly raping her.
Meanwhile, prosecutors talked to Mr Fritzl on Wednesday for the first time since his arrest 10 days ago. He fathered seven children with her, three of whom officials allowed Mr Fritzl to either adopt or foster.
Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer said the new measures would aim to prevent children becoming victims of abuse.
"In the question of violence against children, there can be no compromises," he said, adding that convicted sex criminals should not be allowed to either adopt children or work with young people.
Permanent record
Mr Gusenbauer said that criminal records of sex offenders would be held on file for far longer.
Profile: Josef Fritzl
Mr Fritzl was convicted of rape in 1967 and was sentenced to a term in prison.
However, under current Austrian law, unless the crime carries a life sentence, a conviction must be removed after no more than 15 years.
Mr Fritzl was allowed officially to become responsible for the care of three of the seven children he fathered with his daughter, Elisabeth, adopting one child and fostering two more.
The chancellor said the time limit for offences to remain on the record would now be lengthened to 30 years and serious offences would remain permanently. The measures, if approved, are expected to come into effect early next year.
'Gullible'
Earlier, Austrian Justice Minister Maria Berger said the police had been too easily fooled into accepting Mr Fritzl's account that his daughter ran away to join a cult.
Ms Berger told Austria's Der Standard newspaper: "Looking at everything that we know up to now, I can see a certain gullibility - especially when it comes to that tale that she had joined a sect, with which the suspect explained the disappearance of his daughter."
She said she was certain that such an account would have been more closely examined if presented to the authorities today.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have talked to Mr Fritzl for the first time since his arrest 10 days ago.
A spokesman said the meeting covered his personal history but not the allegations against him.A spokesman said the meeting covered his personal history but not the allegations against him.
He said investigating prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser had described the suspect as "co-operative" during the interview, which lasted about an hour-and-a-half.He said investigating prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser had described the suspect as "co-operative" during the interview, which lasted about an hour-and-a-half.
The next meeting, he said, would not take place for at least another two weeks.The next meeting, he said, would not take place for at least another two weeks.
After his arrest, Mr Fritzl initially confessed to keeping his daughter captive and repeatedly raping her, but then decided not to answer further questions.
First admission
Maria Berger's comments in Der Standard newspaper are the first acknowledgement from Austrian officials of lapses in the investigation into daughter Elisabeth Fritzl's disappearance.
She is quoted as saying: "Looking at everything that we know up to now, I can see a certain gullibility - especially when it comes to that tale that she had joined a sect, with which the suspect explained the disappearance of his daughter."
She said she was certain that such an account would have been more closely examined if presented to the authorities today.
Profile: Josef Fritzl
Mr Fritzl fathered seven children with his daughter, whom he imprisoned in the cellar beneath his home from the age of 18.
One died shortly after birth and three remained locked in the underground chamber with their mother.
Of the three who shared the family home with Mr Fritzl and his wife, one was legally adopted and the other two were fostered by the couple.
Ms Berger said she regretted reports that Mr Fritzl was able to become legally responsible for the care of the three children without the authorities fully investigating his criminal record.
"We wish however that this procedure had been followed even though these were adoptions by family members," she said.
Mr Fritzl was convicted of rape in 1967 and was sentenced to a term in prison. However, under Austrian law, this would have been regarded as a spent conviction.