The case against Jan VH, the Antwerp actor who was arrested last summer in an investigation into suspected child abuse, started before the criminal court of Antwerp. The public prosecutor is seeking four years in prison with a postponement linked to probation conditions against the actor for various sex crimes.
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Jan VH is being prosecuted for possession of child pornography, non-consensual distribution of sexual material, rape and assault. The various victims stated that the acts were done with mutual consent, but according to the prosecutor’s office, some were too young to give consent and the large age difference caused moral pressure. The actor appeared in court on Wednesday morning. (Read more below the photo)
Jan VH appeared in court this morning. — © rr
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Jan VH (51) came on the radar of the court last summer after a report by the Dutch research collective Free Birdsin cooperation with The last news† An undercover journalist had a conversation with the actor, who over the past twenty years had, among other things, roles in series such as Big & Betsy, De Kotmadam in Emma.
ALSO READ. “Some know me, that might make it easier”: how actor (51) spoke frankly about child abuse
The two had met on Bullchat, a dubious chat room for gay men that is also used as a dating site. During that conversation, the actor claimed that he had already had sex with minors. “I’ve already had a couple of 14-year-old boys,” said Jan VH, who also talked about his fantasies. “I especially like boys who have yet to hit puberty. About 11 or 12 years old, maybe 10. Or children of 5 or 6, that’s also horny of course.”
The journalist arranged a false meeting with a 10-year-old boy in an Antwerp hotel. When VH agreed, the investigative collective passed on all information to the police and the public prosecutor’s office.
“Language”
The Antwerp public prosecutor opened an investigation and VH was arrested at the end of July. During the interrogation, he dismissed his statements as “big talk” and vehemently denied all allegations. During the search, the investigators did find incriminating material, after which the actor was officially placed under suspicion in September. He was released under strict conditions.
ALSO READ. Who is the journalist who unmasked the Flemish actor in an investigation into alleged child abuse?
At the beginning of March, the court referred VH to the criminal court for rape and assault of minors between the ages of 14 and 16 and older than 16, making, possessing and distributing child pornography, voyeurism and harassment.
In the judicial investigation, four young people came forward who allegedly had sexual contacts with the actor. They have not filed a civil party† Jan VH himself states that those sexual contacts were with mutual consent.
ALSO READ. Why is the actor’s name not in the media? Can he be punished for his words yet? And is a journalist allowed to ‘provoke’?
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