Henrik Sasse Larsen, a former member of the Social Democratic Party of Denmark and former Minister of Industry, was sentenced today to four months in prison for possession of child pornography.
“We are pleased that this story has come to an end. We will see if it is the final end or if we will appeal,” his lawyer, Berit Ernst, told reporters after the sentence was announced.
Her client admitted to possessing more than 6,000 photos and 2,000 videos, but claimed he was looking for footage of the rape he suffered when he was a minor.
However, his explanation did not convince the judges. The prosecutor also said she was “pleased with today’s result.”
“It’s a sad story when someone so well-known, who has achieved the best in his life despite his unfortunate beginning, finds himself in such a situation,” said Maria Tsingari, referring to the fact that Larsen was placed in foster care as a child.
“We should not be in possession of pornographic material showing children, whatever the motive ,” she insisted.
On the first day of his trial, the former MP said he received an email containing a hyperlink to a video showing a man raping him when he was about three years old. He then received another video in which he, at the same age, was present at the rape of a little girl. Both videos disappeared after they appeared, but he decided to investigate to identify the perpetrators.
He also told judges he regretted not contacting the police when he received the messages.