Dane gets 17 years for abuse of 2 minors in Bohol

Lars Flemming Heding Nielsen (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines — A 63-year-old Danish national was sentenced to serve up to 17 years in prison after he was convicted by a Regional Trial Court (RTC) here for seven counts of acts of lasciviousness against two minors that occurred from 2014 to 2015 in a resort in the town of Panglao in Bohol province.

Lars Flemming Heding Nielsen was found guilty by Judge Leo Moises Lison of the RTC Branch 3 in Tagbilaran City in a ruling dated Dec. 19 and was arrested on Dec. 28, court records showed.

Nielsen, who had been out on bail until his rearrest, was meted a minimum prison term of eight years and from one day to 17 years, four months and one day as maximum jail time. He was also ordered to pay each victim P50,000 in civil indemnity and P50,000 in moral damages.

Nielsen had long been residing in Bohol on a tourist visa at the time of the alleged commission of the sexual abuse. He did not resist arrest when taken by the police from Barangay San Isidro, Dauis town, Bohol, based on the arrest order issued by Judge Lison, who canceled the foreigner’s bail before the conviction order was released.

His lawyers have filed a motion to allow the accused to post bail pending an appeal. However, it has yet to be resolved by the court.

It was the first time that a foreigner was convicted of a sex crime in Bohol, according to private prosecutor lawyer Esther Gertrude Biliran, a child welfare advocate who has been assisting the victims.

Lars had been unable to leave Bohol despite being out on bail as hold departure order had been issued against him on Jan. 25, 2021.

In its decision, the court observed that the victims provided detailed accounts of the lascivious acts committed against them by Lars. The victims’ consistent and affirmative testimonies also remained uncontroverted during cross-examination, the court added.

“Lars admitted that he had no categorical denial of the charges against him. He further explained in the redirect examination that he is not guilty of the charges and did not do the acts for which he is accused. That constitutes his defense. However, he cannot prove it because it is impossible,” Lison said.

The ruling added: “The state shall defend the right of the children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.”

Biliran said the victory was an affirmation of their advocacy for the rights and protection of women and children.

“It is really true that it takes a community to raise a child. We may have all the laws for women and children but if the victims remain silent, if the parents are not supportive or will just settle the case, if the advocates easily give up, or if the government does not cooperate, all these laws would remain futile,” she said.

“I commend these two survivors and their parents for their perseverance. May this victory inspire us to continue to bring to justice these perpetrators for the safety of our women and children,” she added.