Berlin police officer convicted of child pornography
A police officer in Berlin is on trial. The reason: He downloaded a vast amount of child pornographic material via a search engine. The presiding judge speaks of a "significant extent". She follows the prosecution's request in her verdict.
A Berlin police officer has been sentenced to one year and four months imprisonment, suspended for three years, in a child pornography case. The Berlin Regional Court found the 57-year-old guilty of possessing child and youth pornographic image and video files. In one case, he made child pornography accessible.
The man, who has been suspended from duty since the allegations became known, is also ordered to complete six counseling sessions at a therapy facility and to be under the supervision of a probation officer for four years. The man had confessed. In May 2022, he uploaded a child pornographic file via a search engine, according to the court. In June 2023, various data carriers with illegal material were secured during a search of the 57-year-old's apartment.
"It's significant acts, a significant extent," said the presiding judge. The trial came about following a tip-off from the USA. Officers allegedly secured over 3000 child and youth pornographic images and videos. The court largely followed the prosecution's request.
The defense had called for a sentence of one year imprisonment, suspended. The defendant, who has been in the middle service for 30 years, would have the chance to continue his service with a sentence not exceeding one year, said the lawyer. The verdict is not yet final.
The defense argued for a suspended sentence of one year for the police officer, citing his lengthy service of 30 years in the middle service. The Commission, likely a professional body overseeing police, may need to take disciplinary action against the officer following his conviction.
