From Iceland — Probation For Buying Sex From Child

Probation For Buying Sex From Child

Published February 14, 2012

A primary school teacher was sentenced to one year probation for having twice paid a 14-year-old boy for sex. The Government Agency for Child Protection said they find the sentence too light.
The teacher, who resides in Akranes, had on two occasions paid a 14-year-old boy for sexual services. During the course of the trial, the accused and his therapist explained the circumstances, Fréttablaðið reports. It was brought to light that the man was experiencing emotional turmoil due to his sexual orientation, which caused conflicts with his family. Since his arrest, he has gone into therapy to deal with sex addiction and alcohol abuse.
The court, taking this into consideration, decided to sentence the man to one year probation. Heiða Björg Pálmadóttir, a lawyer for The Government Agency for Child Protection, told reporters she found the sentence very strange.
Heiða pointed out that as a serious sexual crime against a child under 15, the sentence should have been much harsher, regardless of how the man has dealt with the issue since his arrest. She also pointed out that as this is the first time in Icelandic history than an adult is charged with soliciting prostitution from a child, the light sentence sets a bad precedent.

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