Question juridique clé
Whether a fine is an adequate sanction for possession/handling of child pornography under Art. 197(3) StGB
Solution extraite
For child pornography involving children, the offense is among the most serious forms of hard pornography; as a rule, only imprisonment comes into question, and a fine is excluded where images show adults engaging in sexual acts with children.
Motifs extraits
The court adopted the Federal Court's view that child pornography is highly criminogenic, protects children's sexual development, and creates demand for abusive material. Because each image rests on a real sexual act, consumers share responsibility and cannot be relieved by the easy and free access provided by the internet.