Overview

• The Munich I regional court sentenced an over-80-year-old defendant to 4 years and 4 months in prison for organizing child sexual abuse and other charges.
• His accomplice received a 5½-year prison sentence for aggravated forced prostitution, child sexual abuse, and blackmailing the older man with recordings of their crime plans.
• The court found the older man spent 12 years recruiting women online to facilitate the abuse of their children, offering them thousands of euros.
• Judge Matthias Braumandl criticized law enforcement and prosecutors for inadequate investigations and described a 2021 fine for the older man’s prior offenses as ‘laughably low.’
• The trial, which began in September 2024 and spanned 46 days, raised doubts about whether earlier, more vigorous investigations could have prevented further crimes.