Ex-Danish minister jailed over child porn: a Danish court sentenced Henrik Sass Larsen to four months for possessing thousands of child sexual abuse files. He admitted holding more than 6,000 photos and 2,000 videos on his computer, while arguing he sought evidence about his own childhood abuse.
Prosecutor Reaction and Key Quotes
Prosecutor Maria Cingari said she was satisfied with the outcome but called the case “sad,” given Larsen’s background.
“You should never be in possession of child pornography, no matter the reason,” she said.
The court heard that Sass Larsen grew up in foster care before being adopted.
What the Court Heard
Sass Larsen, 59, testified that in 2018 he received a link to a decades-old video that depicts someone sexually abusing him at age three. He said a second clip surfaced in 2020; it shows the rape of a three-year-old girl in his presence when he was about three. He told the court both files vanished after viewing and admitted he should have contacted police at the time.
Defence Stance and Other Count
His lawyer, Berit Ernst, argued he was searching for information about his own abuse and questioned whether possession in that context should be punishable. The court acquitted him on a separate allegation that he possessed a child sex doll. Ernst said they would consider an appeal.
Political Fallout and Context
The scandal emerged in March and led to his expulsion from the Social Democratic Party. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed shock at the case. Sass Larsen served as industry minister from 2013 to 2015. With the verdict now delivered, “Ex-Danish minister jailed over child porn.” This remains the defining headline of a case that carried a potential one-year maximum sentence.
