TV4 Journalist Acquitted in 2023 Sex Purchase Case, Citing Journalistic Assignment

A TV4 journalist has been acquitted by the district court of charges related to purchasing sex in an incident that took place in November 2023. The prosecutor alleged that the journalist paid a prostituted woman 2,000 kronor in cash, supported by evidence including SMS messages and a cash withdrawal on the day of the meeting. The text messages included specific requests about the woman's attire, which prosecutors argued indicated a purchase of sexual services.

The journalist vigorously denied the accusation, explaining that the encounter was part of a journalistic investigation linked to a tip about a business leader allegedly buying sex. He claimed that the messages instructing the woman on how to dress were to maintain his cover and to ensure she was not naked, not to solicit sex. This defense was corroborated by the journalist’s supervisors who testified in support of his account.

The court, headed by chair Louise Conradi, found the prosecution's evidence insufficient to override the journalist’s explanation. The court stated, "Even though the prosecutor has presented circumstances that provide some support for the assertion that the journalist purchased a sexual service, these are not sufficient to exclude other reasonable explanations." This ruling underscores the significance of context and intention when evaluating such cases, especially involving journalistic work.

The case brought attention to the challenges journalists face when their investigative methods blur into legally sensitive areas, and highlights judicial caution in convicting based on circumstantial evidence alone.