Estonian court jailed ex-clergy member Toomas Maarandi for child abuse

A district court convicted former clergy member and scout leader Toomas Maarandi of repeated sexual abuse of children he knew personally. The man was sentenced to years in prison.

An Estonian district court has delivered a verdict in the case of former clergy member and scout leader Toomas Maarandi, finding him guilty of repeated sexual abuse of children he knew and sentencing him to years in prison.

Maarandi's victims were children he knew personally through both his role as a clergy member and scout leader. The court established that the abuse occurred repeatedly, and he was accordingly sentenced to a lengthy prison term.

The case has raised questions once again about child protection in religious communities and youth organisations. According to experts, particularly concerning is the fact that the convicted man exploited his authoritative positions to gain the trust of children.