Paedophile network: sentences increased on appeal, up to 15 years imprisonment
The Budapest Metropolitan Court of Appeal increased sentences for six men who shared child pornographic material on a secret internet forum. Some of the accused also committed sexual violence against relatives.
Sentences toughened on appeal in internet paedophile network case
The Budapest Metropolitan Court of Appeal increased sentences for perpetrators of an internet paedophile network, according to the Budapest Metropolitan Appellate Prosecutor's Office. According to HVG sources, the second-instance ruling issued following the prosecution's appeal modified the defendants' prison sentences to 15 years, 12 years and six months, 14 years and six months, and 5 years respectively per defendant.
The case began in 2018 when one of the later defendants created an English-language chat site designed for sharing paedophilic content. From spring 2019 onwards, the same person also operated an international internet forum distributing violent child pornographic material.
Joining the two platforms required applicants to share footage of physically and sexually abused children. Several of the accused committed sexual violence against relatives or acquaintances under the age of 12 and also uploaded footage of such offences to these sites. Others stored tens of thousands of child pornographic images and videos on their computers and mobile phones.
In spring 2023, the Budapest Districts IV and XV Prosecutor's Office brought charges against six men for multiple offences of child pornography and, in four cases, for continuously committed sexual violence. The first-instance court found all defendants guilty and sentenced them to imprisonment ranging from 4 to 14 years.
An exception is the case of the man who founded the forums: on first instance he was acquitted of charges of six offences of child pornography committed in a criminal organisation, then on appeal was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in a penal institution and a 10-year ban from public office. His case continues to a third instance, whilst the sentences of the other defendants have become final.
Source: HVG