Trial begins for former Danish minister accused of possessing child sexual abuse material

The trial against a former Danish minister and MP Henrik Sass Larsen started on Thursday at the Copenhagen City Court.

The former Social Democrat MP faces two charges, including the possession of more than 6,000 images and 2,000 video files containing child sexual abuse material, as well as the possession of a child-like doll designed for sexual purposes.

The evidence was collected by police when they searched his electronic devices in 2023 and 2024.

Sass Larsen pleads not guilty, claiming the images are part a search for images of himself as a child, as the former minister claims he was a victim of abuse himself.

Regarding the doll, he claimed it had been an accidental gift.

The former minister's defence attorney, Berit Ernst, argues that simply possessing the materials is not proof of guilt on its own and instead needs to be supported by evidence showing the materials were intended for use in a criminal act.

"You subjectively need to have intended to possess this material in a criminal manner. And he (Henrik Sass Larsen) has already been out to explain the background for having these things in his possession," Ernst said.

"So, if this is outside the area that the law was intended to cover, then you can go unpunished," the defence attorney added.

If proven guilty, Sass Larsen could face up to one year in prison for each charge.