• Sweden edition

Charges unlikely for admitted panty pic snapper

Published: 29 Apr 09 08:02 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19140/20090429/

A 46-year-old Swedish man who used a hidden camera to take pictures beneath the skirts of several young girls may escape prosecution because none of his victims can be positively identified.

The man was arrested was arrested last Friday after being caught photographing women using a camera hidden in a shoulder-bag.

While he has since admitted to taking panty pics of a number of young women, the 46-year-old may nevertheless escape punishment.

“The case is tricky because we can’t identify any plaintiffs,” Bengt Svensson of the Kristianstad police told the Metro newspaper.

Prosecutor Johan Eriksson, however, refused to tell the paper one way or the other whether he will pursue the case.

When police arrested the 46-year-old they confiscated several cameras, as well as digital memory cards filled with pictures taken from underneath young women’s skirts.

But the images aren’t enough to positively identify any of the man’s victims.

In one case, the man is alleged to have attempted to take pictures of girl who was six or seven-years-old.

“The man’s behaviour is sick, but it’s doubtful as to whether he actually harassed the girls. They weren’t aware they were being photographed,” Svensson told Metro.

David Landes (news@thelocal.se/+46 8 656 6513)

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10:46 April 29, 2009 by Marley420
We the public will gladly help the police identify the victims, just publish the pictures!
12:04 April 29, 2009 by RoyceD
Why do you need to identify any plaintiffs to proceed with prosecuting the sicko? Swedish laws are messed up. They dropped the ball on that rape case not tooo long ago because the girl who got raped killed herself and because of that in swden the guy got to go free. What's wrong with this country???
12:22 April 29, 2009 by DidiE
Ummm, the subtitle here 'Up-skirt photographer will probably get off' is fraught with innuendo. I am reporting EB to himself.
12:27 April 29, 2009 by Muttlestar Galactica
And this is why I was banned from the Highland Games.
12:57 April 29, 2009 by dtes
they should brand his forehead, kick his arse and send him on his way, im sure he will get whats coming to him, like i said in the other post about this, if i ever catch someone like this in the act im gonna curb stomp em!
13:53 April 29, 2009 by EngGent
Don't foam too much at the mouth.

The problem is simple. Without an identifiable victim there is no proof that the photos were taking without permission. Ergo unless pornography has became illegal overnight he cannot be charged with anything.
14:50 April 29, 2009 by VikingHumpingWitch
Am I the only one thinking that I actually wouldn't give one if some bloke snapped my pants? It's very unlikely I would ever meet him again, or that if he uploaded them to the Internet I'd ever be identified from them, and they're not actually obscene in themselves anyway (I know because when I bought them they were openly on display).

I mean it's not on, but is it a big deal?
14:56 April 29, 2009 by DidiE
Furthermore, having never seen my ownself from that angle, how would I even recognise myself?
15:55 April 29, 2009 by Mack
I don't understand why they need to identify the "victims". He was invading other people's privacy and surely they can prove it. Could he produce a signed release for any of the photographs he had? It just seems wrong to let a perv like this go without some punishment.
21:02 April 29, 2009 by RoyceD
Why do people feel the need to defend this type of behavior? It's not having photos like that on your phone which is bad, it's taking someones privacy away without their consent. Would you like a picture of your face taken just as you wake up and posted on the front page of this website? Most likely not. The principle is in question. Something like this sits on the "not that bad" end of a spectrum of privacy invading acts. Either way the act of following any females just to take a picture of their privates is a sick thing to do.

I'd say fine him significantly and putting him on warning for life that if he is found of doing anything like this again it's off to the slave pits.
11:18 April 30, 2009 by anila
I support the above comment

If such creeps arent punished..its going to happen again...

remember the instance when a camera was kept inside a ladies toilet and the offender was not punished..

when these offences of invading others privacy is not treated seriously,it will encourage similar phsychos to do the same!!
11:20 April 30, 2009 by anila
it is very disturbing that some one with such a twisted mind will be walking on the streets!!
11:34 April 30, 2009 by VikingHumpingWitch
Who has done that?
00:50 May 1, 2009 by La Figaro
I strongly believe that once he was caught doing that, he should be prosecuted. Do they have to match it with a face? How many women will want to come forward and say that's me? Can they even identify themeselves from that angle?

Looks like Sweden will become a haven for underskirt snappers now
02:56 May 1, 2009 by CanadianInSweden
if the courts arn't going to punish him, i truly believe a picture of him should ¨accidently get misplaced¨ and found its way to a reporter..let nature take its course
07:41 May 1, 2009 by Nifty
If caught with said photo's in Australia the onus would be on the perp to prove he obtained the pictures legally.While on Australia.It is illegal to photograph kids playing at the beach in their swimming costumes due to weirdo's putting photo's on the net.Technically you cannot photograph your own kids at the beach!
07:58 May 1, 2009 by Skanssi
Can ANYONE claim that a particular beaver shot is theirs?

If not, there is no case. Even if the "subject matter" was kind of "questionable", what harm have the "victims" seen?

If there was a big tattoo saying "Hi, from Victoria's crotch", and it could help to identify a particular individual, then I would say prosecute.

In the mean time, what law was broken? I'm not saying it is right, I'm just saying I don't think the law was broken. Decency standards yes, the law? I don't know.
02:08 May 9, 2009 by TDG
I am really disapointed to read some of the comments here, people are shocked that this suspect can go around and take upskirt photos, oh my god! what kind of world are we living in! think about the children, meanwhile 95% of rape accounts aren't even being reported in this country. But lets concentrate on the photographer perv
22:42 May 9, 2009 by fr33ze
Apparently face is more important than down there in such cases, so why not call our faces the "private part"?
00:50 May 10, 2009 by Inletwatcher
I do believe the title says it all.

Charges unlikely for admitted panty pic snapper, Up-skirt photographer will probably get off

Inlet
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