The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demanded on Friday in the court in Rotterdam 12 years in prison and TBS with compulsory treatment against a 24-year-old man from Ravenstein who is suspected of serious sexual offenses against underage boys. The prosecutor from the National Office suspects the man of possession, distribution, and production of child pornography, among other things, of those victims.
On February 14, 2024, the Child Pornography and Child Sex Tourism Combat Team (TBKK) of the National Unit received information from the Australian police that new images were likely shared on a child pornography forum of a Dutch victim. It involved an adult man performing sexual acts with a minor boy in a hotel room. Careful investigation leads detectives to the hotel and a specific hotel guest: the suspect from Ravenstein. He matches the man in the criminal images and is known to the police. He was already convicted of sexual offenses ten years ago.
Acute abuse
Further investigation, including on the mans Facebook page, reveals a photo of the suspect, his girlfriend (19), and her nephew. That boy turns out to be the victim in the child pornography images. Due to the suspicion of an acute abuse situation, the suspect was quickly arrested on February 23, 2024.
More victims
The police searched the mans home and seized data carriers. A total of 60,000 child pornography images were found. The police discovered more victims of sexual offenses, whom the suspect also filmed. This spans the period from mid-2019 to the day of his arrest.
Camping
The suspect met his victims at a campsite in Kesteren. According to the OM, he lured the boys with outings to amusement parks, branded clothing, Lego, or a ride in a car. This created a close and loyal bond, after which the suspect proceeded to sexual acts with the victims. In the case of the nephew, he was entrusted to the care of the couple and regularly went on vacation with them. Abuse also occurred during those times, and the suspect filmed it. The OM prosecutes the girlfriend for complicity in the abuse of her nephew. That hearing took place behind closed doors because the woman was still a minor for part of the abuse period.
“The suspect has seriously abused the trust of the boys with his actions. It is known that this kind of abuse has a significant impact on the further development of young victims. The suspect has damaged these boys to their core,” said the prosecutor.
Weapon
In addition to the physical sexual offenses against three minor boys and the production of child pornography material of the nephew and two other boys, the man is also suspected of possessing an air gun and 67 grams of MDMA. The weapon was also used by the suspect to instill fear in one of the victims and subsequently sexually abuse him.
The court will issue a ruling in two weeks.