He first attracted the attention of the police in April 2015 when he exchanged obscene photos of women and young girls with other persons on a web portal catering to deviant sexual lifestyles.

Authorities came to suspect that 46-year-old German national Michael Frank Hartung was planning overseas trips for the purpose of commercial sex with minors. Police operatives then went undercover in a sting operation.

Hartung, formerly a senior executive from Deutsche Bank in Singapore, claimed trial to two charges of disseminating information believed to promote these sex tours on Wednesday. Other charges, relating to possessing obscene videos, were stood down for the purposes of the trial.

Hartung is a Singapore Permanent Resident and co-founder of business consulting firm OPTIIS, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is currently a businessman.

The facts of the case

Opening the prosecution’s case on Wednesday (2 May), Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Marshall Lim said that in June 2015, an undercover policeman began chatting with Hartung over Yahoo Messenger. Under the alias “JacksonFong43”, the officer asked Hartung to plan an overseas trip for himself and his friend, adding that he would like to have sex with young virgin girls.

About two months later, Hartung asked one of his Skype contacts, known as “imelda.parado”, about the availability of young girls for sex in the Philippines.

On 26 September, Hartung met with “JacksonFong43” and another officer called “Michael” at the Starbucks Cafe at Raffles City Shopping Centre. At the meeting, Hartung allegedly distributed information to “Jackson” and “Michael” about child sex in the Philippines. The three were also said to have discussed trip and payment details and decided to plan a trip between 15 and 18 October 2015.

However, Hartung did not finalise details of the trip with “Jackson” after “imelda.parado” said that she was not able to meet Hartung’s request to provide virgin girls during the trip dates.

A second operation

A second undercover police operation was mounted due to concerns that Hartung was keen to plan an overseas trip for child sex.

Through its investigations, the police were aware that Hartung was an active member on a website known for deviant sexual lifestyles, including bondage practices. Another police officer created an account with the alias “Darkthrone” on the website and contacted Hartung through its chat system.

He then asked if Hartung could organise a trip for “young blood”, a reference to young girls. Hartung said he could make arrangements and arranged a face-to-face meeting with “Darkthrone”.

Two other undercover agents, known as “Paul” and “Frank”, met Hartung at a bar along Mackenzie Road on 15 April 2016. There, Hartung allegedly provided information to the two about engaging in child sex in the Philippines, including expected prices. The three then discussed dates for the trip and payment details.

However, Hartung subsequently did not contact “Paul” or “Frank” about the trip.

DPP Lim told the court that the prosecution will be producing chat logs from Yahoo Messenger, Skype and the website detailing conversations between the undercover policemen and Hartung, as well as Hartung and “imelda.parado”. It will also submit CCTV footage from Starbucks and the Mackenzie Road bar to show that Hartung was present for the meetings with the policemen.

Audio recordings made during Hartung’s second meeting with the police officers will be tendered, while the four undercover officers involved are also expected to testify. The identities of all four officers involved in the case cannot be revealed due to the nature of their jobs.

On Wednesday, Senior Investigation Officer Neo Kim Leng, the first prosecution witness to take the stand, testified that Hartung was arrested on 30 August 2016 and his Simei Green Condominium raided. The Police seized 37 items from his house but did not recover any incriminating evidence from Hartung’s workplace, which they raided after.

If convicted for distributing information that promotes commercial sex tours for minors outside of Singapore, Hartung can be jailed up to ten years, and/or fined. The current tranch of Hartung’s trial ends on Friday.