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| Former EU state minister jailed over child porn – media | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| An ex-Danish MP Henrik Sass Larsen claimed thousands of files on his computer were linked to his investigation of his own childhood abuse | |
| A former minister in the Danish parliament has been sentenced to four months in prison for possession of child pornography, multiple media outlets reported on Monday. | A former minister in the Danish parliament has been sentenced to four months in prison for possession of child pornography, multiple media outlets reported on Monday. |
| Henrik Sass Larsen, who was once a senior member of the Social Democrats and served as trade minister, admitted to having more than 6,000 photographs and 2,000 videos of child sexual abuse on his computer. | Henrik Sass Larsen, who was once a senior member of the Social Democrats and served as trade minister, admitted to having more than 6,000 photographs and 2,000 videos of child sexual abuse on his computer. |
| He denied the charges, however, insisting the files were connected to his search for evidence of his own childhood abuse. The explanation was rejected by a unanimous jury in the Copenhagen City Court, which delivered its verdict on Monday. | He denied the charges, however, insisting the files were connected to his search for evidence of his own childhood abuse. The explanation was rejected by a unanimous jury in the Copenhagen City Court, which delivered its verdict on Monday. |
| Police uncovered the material during searches of his electronic devices in 2023 and 2024. The case, which became public in March 2024, cost him his membership in the ruling Social Democratic Party. | Police uncovered the material during searches of his electronic devices in 2023 and 2024. The case, which became public in March 2024, cost him his membership in the ruling Social Democratic Party. |
| In court, the 59-year-old, who spent part of his childhood in foster care before being adopted, said he had received a video link in 2018 that appeared to show him being abused as a toddler. This and another file vanished after viewing, he told the judges, adding that he searched online to trace the perpetrators and regretted not going to police. | In court, the 59-year-old, who spent part of his childhood in foster care before being adopted, said he had received a video link in 2018 that appeared to show him being abused as a toddler. This and another file vanished after viewing, he told the judges, adding that he searched online to trace the perpetrators and regretted not going to police. |
| Prosecutor Maria Cingari said she was “satisfied” with the verdict, but called it sad that someone who had managed to overcome a difficult start in life ended up in such circumstances. She stressed that nothing could justify possession of child pornography. | Prosecutor Maria Cingari said she was “satisfied” with the verdict, but called it sad that someone who had managed to overcome a difficult start in life ended up in such circumstances. She stressed that nothing could justify possession of child pornography. |
| The court acquitted Sass Larsen on a separate charge of owning a child sex doll, which he said had arrived as a free gift with an online purchase. His lawyer said an appeal is still being considered. Under Danish law, the defense has 14 days to file one. | The court acquitted Sass Larsen on a separate charge of owning a child sex doll, which he said had arrived as a free gift with an online purchase. His lawyer said an appeal is still being considered. Under Danish law, the defense has 14 days to file one. |
| In Denmark, possession of materials depicting child abuse is punishable regardless of intent with a maximum penalty of two years in prison. | In Denmark, possession of materials depicting child abuse is punishable regardless of intent with a maximum penalty of two years in prison. |
| The ruling has sparked both political and public backlash. Betina Kastbjerg, spokesperson for the Danish Democrats party, argued that the four-month sentence is too light, while demonstrators gathered outside the court called for tougher penalties. | The ruling has sparked both political and public backlash. Betina Kastbjerg, spokesperson for the Danish Democrats party, argued that the four-month sentence is too light, while demonstrators gathered outside the court called for tougher penalties. |