A Swedish teenager known online as “Chai” has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for serious crimes committed through the internet, including attempted murder, rape and aggravated assault, with victims in Germany and Australia.
The 18-year-old was between 15 and 17 when the offences were committed. A Swedish district court convicted him on two counts of attempted murder involving a young person in Germany, as well as sexual and violent offences against an Australian girl.
Prosecutors said the teenager was involved in online networks accused of coercing vulnerable young people into committing acts of violence, self-harm and sexual exploitation.
The court ruled that violent offences could be committed remotely through the internet when a person uses online communication to cause or direct another person to carry out the act.
Swedish prosecutor Jenny Östling said the sentence was among the longest possible for someone of his age. His lawyer, however, argued that the court made errors in its assessment of many of the charges.
The case has drawn international attention because it highlights the growing challenge of prosecuting serious crimes carried out through online networks operating across national borders.
Sweden, Online Crime, Germany, Australia, Attempted Murder, Rape, Cybercrime, Online Violence
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