Former pastor from Liechtenstein is said to have sexually abused an eight-year-old girl
Released
Principality of LiechtensteinEx-pastor is said to have abused 8-year-olds – new judge reopens the case
A pastor from Liechtenstein is said to have sexually abused an eight-year-old girl. After the criminal case has been suspended for the time being, it is resuming a new judge.
That’s what it’s about
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A former Ruggell FL pastor is said to have sexually abused an eight-year-old girl.
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The public prosecutor’s office dropped the case due to repeated evidence.
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The process is now resumed.
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The pastor denies all allegations.
A former pastor from Ruggell in the Principality of Liechtenstein is suspected of sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl. The public prosecutor’s office dropped the case because of surprising evidence. Now, however, a new judge at the Liechtenstein Higher Court is responsible and is resuming the proceedings, as the «St. Gallen daily newspaper» (Paid article) writes.
In October 2019, the man who was working as a pastor at the time is said to have lured the eight-year-old to the vicarage under a pretext. In the vicarage, according to her parents, he pulled up her T-shirt and massaged her chest. During a house search, investigators found a total of 196 websites with pedo-criminal content in the pastor’s browser history.
Procedure has been discontinued
In August 2020, the Princely Regional Court sentenced the pastor to a conditional fine of CHF 27,000 for the consumption of depictions of sexualized violence against children. However, the man applied for an appeal, so the case was dismissed for retrial and is pending to this day.
The public prosecutor’s office dropped the case for sexual abuse after just four months. She shared that it could not be proven with certainty that the girl was actually touched in the chest area. In addition, the girl’s breast had not yet developed. The public prosecutor’s office retracted the latter statement shortly afterwards.
In addition to the browser history, the investigators also found self-made videos with “a clear focus on the child’s breast”. There were also indications of a right-wing extremist attitude. In addition to the book “Mein Kampf” by Adolf Hitler, “a list of domestic neo-Nazis” was also found.
Pastor denies everything
The pastor has so far denied any allegations. He claimed that strangers abused his cell phone and watched pedophile films. He has created a website on which he asks his followers to donate and presents himself as a victim. The “attack” is not aimed at him, but at “the Lord”.
Archbishop Wolfgang Haas of the Diocese of Vaduz, and thus also the church, had protected the pastor for a long time. He was able to continue working for about four months before he had to resign from his ministry. This happened when the eight-year-old girl’s parents filed a complaint.
It is the presumption of innocence.
Are you underage and affected by sexualised violence? Or do you know a child who experiences sexualised violence?
cocoonCounseling center for childrender, adolescents and young adults
Castagna, Counseling center for sexual violence in children and adolescents
counseling centers Victim Support Switzerland
Per Juventute, Advice for children and young people, Tel. 147
Are you a pedophile yourself and do not want to become a criminal? You can get help from Forio, Previously and at the UPK Basel.
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