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Law enforcement officers launched a pretrial investigation against this cleric in another investigation into similar crimes.
Initially, it was established that Alionidas Budrius, the parish priest of Micaičiai Parish of the Diocese of Šiauliai, shared pornographic videos and photos with other people via the social media application Messenger.
Among the recipients with whom he shared pornography was a parish priest belonging to the diocese of Panevėžys.
Officers from the Panevėžys County Police Commissariat Major Crimes Investigation Board of the Criminal Police conducted the pre-trial investigation separately, led by the Prosecutor of the First Prosecution Division of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office by Panevėžys Ričardas Juozainis when we have the information.
During the pre-trial investigation, many pornographic videos and photos were found on the computer of the cleric from the Aukštaitija region. After reviewing them, experts from the Office of the Inspector of Journalistic Ethics found that at least 53 electronic files contained pornographic videos and photos depicting children under 18 or depicting people as children. Among these records on the priest’s computer were 31 photos, which are included in Interpol’s database of child sexual exploitation.
According to the prosecutor Ričardas Juozainis, who led the pre-trial investigation, the defendant admits his guilt. He said he knew downloading and storing pornographic videos and photos of children was prohibited, and he regretted doing so. The Curia of the Diocese of Panevėžys was informed about the pre-trial investigation carried out against this cleric.
The Penal Code establishes a fine or prison of up to 2 years for the possession of pornographic content that represents a child or presents a person as a child.
As the bishopric of Panevėžys reported to the BNS, the aforementioned cleric is currently removed from all functions.
“This clergyman is relieved of all duties. This will be the case before judgment is passed. After the announcement of the judicial decision, the investigation of this crime will be carried out and all the material will be delivered to the Congregation for the Faith, which will give instructions on the punishment or pronounce the sentence itself,
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