Chiro leader convicted because he dragged nude photos of minors: « He abused his position of trust » (Ghent)
© BLG, PDR
A former Chiro leader from Ghent was sentenced on Thursday to four years in prison with Probation delay. With false accounts he tried nude photos from members of the youth movement. The man is said to have made five victims. He would also have abused one of them.
« He had a position as a leader towards his members of the youth movement. But he has abused a threeththest and absolute unacceptable way. This is serious facts of repeated sexual cross -border behavior, » the judge said.
The man was a leader in a chiro group from Ghentse and was sentenced on Thursday to four years in prison with probation postponement for the rape and damage to the sexual integrity of one minor victim, incorporating five victims and the distribution and possession of sexual abuse of minors.
The police opened an investigation after a father and his son went to the police. The facts date from the summer from 2022 to March 2024. Through false accounts on social media, the then 18-year-old leader tried to obtain nude images of members of the Chiro. He continued to insist on more photos and thus made five victims. He would also have abused one of them.
No sexual abnormality
The man, in the meantime a twenties, confessed the facts and left the youth movement. According to him, he struggled with his orientation. He stated that he had been in love with some young people. According to the suspect, he did not realize at first that he was going over the wrote and he only came to insight afterwards. He has since been in treatment.
His lawyer, Kristiaan Vandenbussche, pointed to the debt insight of his client and that “the appointed psychologist found no evidence of any paraphile disorder (sexual abnormality, ed.)« . The judge also pointed out in the judgment to the insight into the judgment, that the defendant has in the meantime reimbursed the victims and that he is already following guidance. » He recognized his mistakes at the session and during the investigation. «
The lawyer asked for a probation-suspension as a punishment, but the court did not think that was in proportion to the seriousness of the facts. The judge ruled that a heavy prison sentence with strict probation conditions was more suitable.
