Swedish Court Sentences Online Extremist 'Chai' to Prison

The Swedish legal system handed down a verdict against an 18-year-old who used the alias “Chai” on the internet, finding him responsible for a range of alleged crimes including an attempted murder, child-pornography offenses, severe assault and animal abuse. Prosecutor Jenny Östling described the case as a pilot trial to determine whether violent crimes can be prosecuted when the perpetrator acts remotely, influencing victims to harm themselves.

The defendant underwent a forensic psychiatric assessment that concluded he does not suffer from a serious mental illness. While he denied the accusations, he acknowledged certain factual circumstances. The prosecution has requested a twelve-year custodial sentence, and the judgment was scheduled for 11 a.m.