Anaesthetist in Hannover faces court: Naked photographs of sedated children
A 52-year-old doctor from the Hannover region is alleged to have photographed children whilst under anaesthesia between 2010 and 2024. The prosecution is bringing charges in eleven cases.
Hannover anaesthetist charged with abuse photographs of sedated children
A trial against a 52-year-old anaesthetist began on Wednesday at Hannover Regional Court. According to ndr.de, the prosecution alleges that between 2010 and 2024, he secretly took photographs of seven children and a 22-year-old woman in a hospital whilst they were under general anaesthesia.
According to the prosecution, the youngest victim was eight years old and was to undergo surgery on his elbow when the doctor used his mobile telephone to photograph the child's genitals. The prosecution alleges that in some cases he also touched sedated children in intimate areas.
The prosecution further alleges that the medical professional abused children from his private circle. These included the five-year-old daughter of an acquaintance, whom he allegedly instructed to pose sexually in his flat according to the charges.
Discovered at a campsite in Croatia
Security personnel at a campsite in Croatia put investigators on the trail of the suspect approximately two years ago. They reportedly observed him secretly photographing naked children there and seized his mobile telephone. They subsequently informed the Hannover prosecution.
A subsequent search of his flat and workplace uncovered approximately 1,600 child and youth pornographic files on a computer, according to the prosecution. The clinic has separated from the employee, according to its own account.
A total of eleven charges – silence at the start of proceedings
In total, the prosecution has charged the former anaesthetist in eleven cases. In earlier procedural stages, there had been talk of 19 cases between 2006 and 2024. A court spokeswoman explained the difference by stating that some of the acts have since become time-barred and in further cases there had been no sufficient factual basis.
The suspect remained silent at the start of proceedings. His defence counsel announced that his client would make a statement at the next hearing date. Additionally, the anaesthetist has offered compensation to all victims, according to his defence counsel.
Five further hearing dates have been scheduled for the trial. A verdict is expected no earlier than mid-June.
Legal framework and terminology debate
Under Section 184b paragraph 1 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), the production of depictions of sexual acts involving children under 14 years old is punishable by imprisonment of between six months and ten years. Possession or accessing such content is subject to imprisonment of between three months and five years under Section 184b paragraph 3 StGB.
The independent commission for processing child sexual abuse in Germany criticises the term "child pornography" as trivialising. It obscures the fact that every such depiction constitutes a serious criminal offence. The association "Wendepunkt" recommends instead the term "sexual violence", as where recordings of sexual acts involving children are concerned there can be no talk of willing participation. The police use both formulations – the legal term "child pornography" as well as "depictions of child sexual abuse" – because the offence is anchored in the criminal code in this manner.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)