Swiss authorities: Social worker admits to 114 sexual assaults

[Eoin247]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe...ges/index.html

A social worker in Switzerland has confessed to sexually assaulting more than 100 disabled children and adults, authorities said Tuesday.
The 54-year-old man, who was not identified, said the assaults took place over a 28-year span in nine institutions where he worked as a therapist. He is from Argovie district in northern Switzerland, according to a statement from the regional public prosecutor of Bern-Mittelland and Bern cantonal police.
He has confessed that since 1982, he abused people while he was employed in homes and institutions for people with mental and physical disabilities in Switzerland and Germany, authorities said. Most of the facilities where the alleged incidents occurred are in Bern canton.
The man has since been interviewed more than 50 times since his arrest last April, and has been "very cooperative" in revealing "further information on similar cases," the statement said.
He had been investigated in 2003 in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, but the case was dropped because of insufficient evidence, authorities said.
In all, the man confessed to sexually abusing 114 people -- all of whom were mentally disabled and some of whom also had physical disabilities -- who have been identified by canton police. The man also confessed to eight attempted sexual assaults, authorities said.
Most of the victims were male; 42 of the victims were older than 18, authorities said. One of the victims was 1 year old at the time of the alleged assault.
Police said the man told investigators that some of the abuses occurred several times on the same day. In 18 cases, the abuses were photographed or filmed. Investigators determined that no images or videos had been posted to the internet.
The statute of limitations has passed for most of the offenses, authorities said, but the man can be prosecuted for 33 cases.

I think it's incredible how sick some people can be. I mean taking advantage of this many people who can't even help themselves?

One of the victims was only 1 year old! I also find it terrible that he can only be prosecuted for 33 of the cases.

Thoughts?

[-:Undertaker:-]

With anyluck he'll be kept in prison or be offered castration, of course some people on here and our political class view this sort of behaviour as a disease and have the vain idea that in order to 'treat' this, these people need to mingle with the rest of us. (of course, they are usually the ones who dont have to live near these people). Not sure about Swiss justice, i'm sure they can do better than this country though as they do an excellent job concerning their democratic system.

But yeah you're right its common sense, its downright sick.

[Catzsy]

of course some people on here and our political class view this sort of behaviour as a disease and have the vain idea that in order to 'treat' this, these people need to mingle with the rest of us.

Dan I would doubt anybody on the forum would even think this. Why when posting do you always have a go at other members ? He needs locking up permanently or being offered chemical castration, I agree,

[Fuze]

that is just disgusting - what has the world come to?

[Inseriousity.]

Not sure about Swiss justice

As he can only be prosecuted for 33/114, I wouldn't say it was that good!!
Hope he rots in jail.

[GommeInc]

As he can only be prosecuted for 33/114, I wouldn't say it was that good!!
Hope he rots in jail.

No point locking him up for a few thousand years when he'll be dead in a lot less than that I think the 33/114 stands for number of cases that he has been found guilty for (with evidence) or that 33 is a reasonable number because it far exceeds his lifetime. Some countries do that, some don't. We can't really question a country whom may have a far different legal system than us.

[Ajthedragon]

How cruel. I guess some people have morale issues.

[Inseriousity.]

No point locking him up for a few thousand years when he'll be dead in a lot less than that I think the 33/114 stands for number of cases that he has been found guilty for (with evidence) or that 33 is a reasonable number because it far exceeds his lifetime. Some countries do that, some don't. We can't really question a country whom may have a far different legal system than us.

I read 'statute of limitations has passed' as "We only charge for crimes within a specific time limit e.g 15 years. Any crime before that won't be included." Which I personally think is wrong but if it's because of the bolded reason then that'd be alright. Don't think 'he'll be dead soon anyway' is a good enough reason though but that's just my opinion

[-:Undertaker:-]

Dan I would doubt anybody on the forum would even think this. Why when posting do you always have a go at other members ? He needs locking up permanently or being offered chemical castration, I agree,

Because whenever crime is debated on this forum, left wingers of the new left often give me lectures on how it isn't really the fault of these people and how they need help, rather than punishment/being locked up for their crimes. All sorts is thrown out about poverty, childhood upbringing and so forth. So when horrific cases such as this come up, these people are never anywhere to be seen - now why is that I wonder?

Yourself, you appear to have a sense of the old patriotic left about you which is the strand of which I like (tough on crime, defenders of sovereignty - in many ways conservative in outlook as most of the less advantaged people in this country are) but the new left does treat crime as a disease.

[GommeInc]

I read 'statute of limitations has passed' as "We only charge for crimes within a specific time limit e.g 15 years. Any crime before that won't be included." Which I personally think is wrong but if it's because of the bolded reason then that'd be alright. Don't think 'he'll be dead soon anyway' is a good enough reason though but that's just my opinion

It could be that, as I said, I have no idea how the Swedish legal system works. Although 33 cases is quite a lot, so he'd be suffering quite a heavy punishment if he is found guilty of all of them. It's like people being found guilty of murdering hundreds or thousands of people, and being given about 6 death sentences Obviously he wouldn't be sentenced to death, but he'd possibly (and hopefully) get a considerable number of years inside.

EDIT: Infact, as he's 54, any nominal punishment would see the rest of his life behind bars - 10 years minimum to a guessable maximum.