The management of the Burgtheater received a lot of criticism after the child pornography scandal surrounding actor Florian Teichtmeister became known. Although it is emphasized that there were no indications and that leave could not be applied for on the basis of unconfirmed rumors, employment law expert Katharina Körber-Risak sees otherwise. According to her, the Burgtheater reacted “much too late”.
Lawyer Körber-Risak cannot derive anything from the argument that there were no employment law options, that the presumption of innocence applied and that Teichtmeister credibly denied the allegations. “There is a presumption of innocence in criminal law, but that has nothing to do with my dealing with a possible reason for dismissal as an employer,” emphasized Körber-Risak in the Ö1 “Mittagsjournal” on Monday. Rather, it is a matter of balancing interests – in this case, on the one hand, the duties of the management towards the Burgtheater and its reputation, but also the duty of care towards the staff; on the other hand, the possibility of an employment law procedure for dismissal or suspension. According to Körber-Risak, she “knows in which direction the weighing of interests should have gone”.
The employment law expert referred to an article in the Krone of September 2021, which already read about house searches, albeit without mentioning the actor. The Burgtheater knew who it was about. A house search requires that there is an urgent suspicion of a crime. “And as soon as I know that from a newspaper,” explains Körber-Risak, “as an employer I have to take action.”
Psychiatrist: Difference between pedophilia and paedosexuality
In just over three weeks, Teichtmeister must answer to court for possessing 58,000 images of underage abuse. He has confessed that he could face up to two years in prison if convicted. According to psychiatrist Sigrun Roßmanith, up to five percent of men consume child pornography. Two to five percent of men have paedosexual fantasies, the expert explains in an APA interview.
A distinction must be made between pedophilia – that is, sexual orientation or sexual interest in the body of children – and paedosexuality. The second refers to behaviour, ie the pedophile sexuality actually lived through. “Responding to the child’s body doesn’t mean someone is actually acting paedosexual,” Rossmanith said. Not everyone who consumes child pornography is or becomes a potential child abuser, the psychiatrist emphasized. However, “almost every sex offender is known to have used child pornography”.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
