The judiciary is investigating alleged sexually abusive behavior against a former management employee of the Augsburger Domsingknaben. According to the Domsingknaben and the Bamberg Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, the 25-year-old is said to have secretly taken pictures in toilets and showers from 2017 to 2020. There is also suspicion of sexual abuse.
The “Center for Combating Child Pornography and Sexual Abuse of Children on the Internet” (ZKI) is located at the Bamberg Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to the ZKI, it became aware of the man through a tip from abroad. He was investigated from 2020, initially on suspicion of acquiring and possessing child pornography.
A search of the man’s apartment revealed 378 child pornographic images and 160 videos on several devices, which showed male children and adolescents mainly in the showers and toilets. Because of the rooms shown in the recordings and knowing about the suspect’s previous activities, the investigators quickly suspected that the children and young people who were secretly filmed could be boys’ choir, as it was also said.
Since then, the officials have also been investigating violations of the most personal sphere of life and personal rights. So far, 34 victims have been identified, according to the Attorney General. In the case of a single-digit number of victims, identification is still pending. And: “In one case, an interrogation of a victim led to the suspicion of sexual abuse of a 13-year-old boy at the alleged time of the crime in the suspect’s apartment in Munich in 2017.” There are no indications of further sexual offenses. The Domsingknaben “actively supported” the investigation.
According to their information, the accused left the Domsingknaben in 2020 at his own request. According to the public prosecutor’s office, he no longer lives in Bavaria. According to their own account, the Domsingknaben have known about the case since October 2022. At that time, the investigators approached the facility. As a result, there were talks with those affected and their parents, as well as information evenings for all members of the Domsingknaben. The case was not initially made public to protect those affected.
The director of the Cathedral Boys’ Choir, Domkapellmeister Stefan Steinemann, said: “Right from the start, it was important to put one’s own shock aside and always keep an eye on the most important concern, the best possible support for those affected.” Preventative training courses on self-determination for children and young people are now being planned.
The Augsburger Domsingknaben are an institution of the diocese of Augsburg. According to their own statements, their history goes back to the Middle Ages. They count themselves among the most renowned boys’ choirs in the world.