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Christoph Metzelder (archive)
Photo: Eibner-Pressefoto / Strohdiek / imago images / Eibner
Christoph Metzelder is said to have had 297 files with child and youth pornographic content on his cell phone.
This was announced by the Düsseldorf District Court.
The prosecutor's charge against the former professional footballer had previously been received there.
The investigators accuse him not only of possessing child pornography, but also of having procured the possession to third parties.
According to the district court, he is said to have sent 29 corresponding image and video files via WhatsApp to three women between July and September last year.
One woman received 10 photos, a second 16 photos and two video files;
he is said to have sent a picture to the third woman.
Metzelder is said to have saved almost 300 such recordings on his mobile phone as of September 2019.
The prosecutor had previously announced that charges had been brought.
The investigators did not provide any information on the allegations upon request, and the communication only mentions a "former national soccer player".
The lawyer for the vice world champion informed the dpa news agency that he was not currently taking a position.
Metzelder himself has not yet commented publicly on the allegations.
Several inquiries from SPIEGEL left Metzelder's lawyers unanswered.
The allegations became known last September.
At that time, investigators searched two addresses of Metzelder and confiscated a cell phone and a PC, among other things.
In the Metzelder case, it is now the turn of the Düsseldorf District Court.
The court must now decide whether to admit the indictment.
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