Academic Hakan Sandgren charged with possessing child exploitation material

A Gold Coast academic accused of possessing child exploitation material has been trying to leave Australia.

A Gold Coast academic accused of possessing child exploitation material has asked the court’s permission to take a trip to Sweden to visit his sick aunt.

Hakan Olov Alexius Sandgren was charged with one count each of possessing child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child abuse material.

The charges related to more than 30 images allegedly found in Sandgren’s possession.

He had not entered a plea for the charges.

On his LinkedIn profile, Sandgren listed his job title as “tutor and casual lecturer”.

Hakan Sandgren. Picture: Facebook

During a bail application in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday, Sandgren’s solicitor Mark Donnelly said his client had made plans to visit a cancer-stricken aunt in Sweden.

Mr Donnelly said Sandgren had not been able to visit his aunt over the past couple of years due to Covid and would arrive back before his next scheduled court date.

The court was told Australian Federal Police intended to lay further charges against him which, if proven, could lead to a mandatory term of imprisonment.

Because of this, the prosecution said there were concerns Sandgren would flee if he went to Sweden as he had family connections in the country.

Sangren applied for bail in Southport Courthouse. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Donnelly said this was not the case and his client was prepared to deal with the matters.

He noted the married father had ties to the Gold Coast community and owned property.

“He could have disappeared to Sweden since he got the notice to appear (in court), but he hasn’t,” Mr Donnelly said.

“He’s come to court, he’s obtained legal representation.

“He’s married, he’s got family here, he’s got property here. He could have already gone to Sweden. It’s a country that has an extradition treaty with Australia.”

Magistrate Jane Bentley said she had to take into account the further charges that could potentially be laid against Sandgren when making a decision on the bail application.

“In those circumstances I am satisfied that if you were to leave the country, you would be an unacceptable risk of failing to appear on these charges,” she said.

Magistrate Bentley ordered that Sandgren must not leave Australia unless he had received written permission from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions beforehand.

Sandgren’s matters were adjourned to August 15.

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