Child porn suspects appear in court

2 June 2004

AMSTERDAM — A lawyer for the public prosecutor urged Arnhem Court on Wednesday to impose an eight-year jail term and TBS detention with compulsory psychiatric treatment on two men charged with being members of a child pornography network.

The 35-year-old C. V. and the 32-year-old R. J. are accused of being involved in a group that organised sex holidays, produced and spread child pornography and sexually abused male youths.

Sexual acts were also allegedly performed via an internet web camera and telephone, news agency ANP reported.

V. is accused of acting as a guide for sex trips to Tunisia and the prosecution alleges that men picked out boys out of slum areas and paid them for sex. The prosecution said it was pure child prostitution.

Both men, of Arnhem, have largely confessed to the charges and are also accused of raping two 14-year-old boys. The victims had run away from a boarding school in the central Dutch town of Hoenderloo.

In total, seven suspects were due to appear before Arnhem Court on Wednesday. Police raided 18 locations at the end of 2003 and seized 2,000 discs, 3,500 photos and 3,200 videos. Justice authorities expect to carry out more arrests.

Subject: Dutch news