The Unscrupulous Use of Newspapers

The newspaper coverage of the event, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday following my arrest were huge and most pre-judicial. The radio and television coverage was also huge and pre-judicial.

Denmark is a small place and such a great amount of press coverage, both in the national and local press did considerable and irrevocable harm to the case and my rights to a fair trial and hearing.

Bagmandspolitiet had unscrupulously used the most important weapon to smear, discredit and disgrace my person – the media. Thereafter, there was no way back, moreover, the public would never “take back” what they had witnessed on the television and newspapers.

The Danish media did create a trial by the media; a most pre-judicial environment for a fair trial. I am blameless by the prosecutions intrigues to create embarrassment and disarray among the clients of the companies. The media missed the underlying story and truth.

What Does America Say About Pioneers?

They are the ones with an arrow in their back. That is so true, as I bitterly felt many in my own back as an originator of Scandinavian Capital Exchange, much too early. I was the first to start in 1973 – 1974 in Scandinavia advising investors to diversify their investment into precious metals, commodities and indirectly other currencies.

Looking back on what really took place and the Danish authorities objective at the time, I believe that Scandinavian Capital Exchange started much too early.

Denmark and the other Scandinavian countries all had strict exchange control and many restrictions on their capital market.

The Ministry of Trade, together with the National Bank, was very suspicious from the first day we started in 1974; there was an area of investment which according to EEC (now EU) law could freely move across borders.

All precious metals and indeed other commodities were considered as goods and subject to sales tax, however, gold was somewhat still a reserve asset in the national banks. All commodities were subject to the currency fluctuations and therefore could directly be used to hedge against any devaluations.

All this, together with the explosive expansion of the futures markets in the USA and UK as well as with the “new” creation of options and other financial instruments, caused the authorities to become worried with regards to possible capital outflow, speculations outside of their control and possible loopholes.

To make matters worse, the fiscal authorities could see that there was an area where it could be difficult to monitor the flow of money and savings.

Considering that all of the activities of the Scandinavian Capital Exchange operated on an international plan on a daily basis, in fact, activities which neither the National Bank nor the Ministry of Trade could properly monitor, everything became a problem and concern. Such could not be tolerated and action had to be taken.

Bagmandspolitiet and the courts just became the henchmen for the authorities and what followed was not much different to what took place at the time in DDR, Sovjetunion and other such countries – the state just enforces its power on the citizen. Sadly, we can still witness such injustices daily from China to today’s Russia.

Bagmandspolitiet aim:

Here they got a perfect case upon which they could set the stage from the first moment (the arrest and closing of the companies for open television), putting them back on the map with the public and government after having “a successful” high profile case.

The fiscal authorities aim:

To discourage Danish investors from making an investment in real assets like precious metals and other commodities manifesting the fiscal authorities’ long arm reaches everywhere. Danish investors should keep their money with the established banks and invest in national and property bonds, where everything can be registered and controlled. Since Bagmandspolitiet had already passed the point of no return on the first day, they just had to ruthlessly fabricate a justification – an injustice.

Denmark gave considerable freedom to the press and in 1980 had very liberal laws of libel and of contempt of court. These very liberal press laws were deliberately used by the Danish authorities as a tool and thus used to conduct a trial by newspapers, with the most malicious lies about me and the case.

The television and radio broadcasting programmes (by the state-owned TV and Radio), and the thousands of newspaper articles prior to the sentencing at the Lower Court, effectively convicted me together with the fact that I had remained incarcerated for so long that the public thought “I must have committed something, otherwise, why have I been incarcerated for years?”. No smoke without fire.

Trial By Newspapers

The media was one of the most important factors in the “success” of the initial action taken against me and my companies e.g. the raid, seizure and arrest by the Special Prosecution. Unless it was possible to get the press involved in such a way that customers would be anguished and anxious as to their investments and purchases, it would not have been possible to justify keeping me incarcerated or to justify the “heavy” action taken with the companies’ closure.

The Danish journalists made no inquiry to determine how such concealment and cover-up could happen and how frequently the stupidity or venality of the police and prosecution is counterproductive to the country’s interest. 

It is very clear that the considerably large amount of press coverage during the period when I was in solitary confinement was not only large in quantity but exceptionally striking in the content. In seeing these headlines (just a few of hundreds), one must remember that I was confined in solitary confinement and prevented from commenting to the media about many of these numerous lies and allegations.

Furthermore, the courts restricted the defence as well as what the defence could say and comment to all the media coverage; whereas the authorities allowed open interviews with officials from the Special Prosecution who regularly showed various documentation including my notes and letters were written during my long solitary confinement, suffering from despair and depression.

All of these points collectively add up to a “trial by newspaper” with real and substantial prejudice. No counterbalances as to my interests were evident.

No Danish Press in Strasbourg

Even after my long pre-trial incarceration, the Danish media had no interest in pursuing the truth when the Dutch, German, French and Belgian television stations were at the court hearings at the European Court of Human Rights in September 1988. The Danish media and Danish State Television were not there.

Despite that this was a historic occasion with regards to Denmark being in front of the full panel of judges, from 17 member countries, the Danish media did not attend.

So many stories were planted by the Special Prosecution (Bagmandspolitiet), to criminalise me and the activities of the companies; therefore justifying the closing of SCE and my solitary confinement. The media had no interest in the truth.

Furthermore, to promote Bagmandspolitiet and their work; even going so far as to justify that the members of Bagmandspolitiet could regularly go to Paris and other places.

When Bagmandspolitiet raided my companies offices, they found details as to all the assets held by the various companies in the USA, United Kingdom, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark; everything was there for them to see.

Nevertheless, during the period where I was in solitary confinement, the Danish public could read regularly in the press that Bagmandspolitiet “had found money in the USA, in Holland and Switzerland”. All of this looked good, considering the huge cost of the so-called investigations, but it was all deceit for the Danish public and the companies’ clients.

The Prejudicial Trial by the Media

It is very clear that the considerably large amount of press coverage during the period when I was in solitary confinement was not only large in quantity but exceptionally striking in the content.

In seeing these headlines, one must remember that I was confined in solitary confinement and prevented from commenting to the media about many of these numerous lies and allegations, moreover not even charged.

Furthermore, the courts restricted the defence and what the defence could say and comment to all the media coverage; whereas the authorities allowed open interviews with officials from the Bagmandspolitiet. All of these points add up collectively to a “trial by newspaper” with real and substantial prejudice.

No counterbalances as to my interests were evident. So many of these stories were planted by the Special Prosecution (Bagmandspolitiet) to criminalise me and the activities of the companies, therefore justifying the closing of SCE as well as my solitary confinement and pre-trial punishment. Furthermore, is was done to promote Bagmandspolitiet and their work, even going so far as to justify that members of Bagmandspolitiet could regularly go abroad.

When Bagmandspolitiet raided my companies’ offices, they found details with regards to all the assets held by the various companies in the USA, United Kingdom, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark; everything was there for them to see.

Nevertheless, during the period where I was in solitary confinement, the Danish public could read regularly in the press that Bagmandspolitiet “had found money in the USA, in Holland and Switzerland”. All of this looked good, considering the huge cost of the so-called investigations, but it was all deceit for the Danish public and the companies’ clients In the years later, it was somewhat difficult for the tabloid press to change sides after publishing all of these lies and allegations.

Making matters worse, this gutter press had to go on and take an editorial stand.

BT and Ekstra Bladet took an active part in their regular editorials about me, my companies, clients and the case. These views and stand also influenced the other newspapers and they practically all became biased against me and my companies and stamped me as a criminal, months and years before my trial was finished. If they had no stories to write about they selected any criminal to comment or tell some lies.

Even when I became a free person and the authorities had justified my one thousand four hundred and ninety-two days of incarceration, the newspapers continued to hunt me and continued referring to the lies they wrote years before.

If you repeat something, again and again, some dirt will stick and hopefully, people will start to believe it. Only the politically independent newspaper, Information, took a different line and searched more for the facts and truth.

The fact that the media slowly became committed after writing so many lies and innuendoes – all attacking me, played a major part in creating a public trial by newspapers.

The editorial lines of many leading newspapers were to throw as much dirt as possible on my person, on my clients and my companies. Worse off, the media took an active part in pointing out that I was guilty and deserved a long prison sentence. In many countries, such editorial lines would have stopped my case, as this was pre-judicial and would not allow me to get a fair trial. Denmark is a small country and this popular media coverage had devastating effects on everything and ultimately gave me an unfair trial.

At a time when I suffered badly with strong migraines, lack of sleep, severe stress symptoms, severe anxiety, recurring nightmares, flashbacks, extreme agitation and irritability with severe depression; the media just ridiculed me, making amusement of my suffering and totally ignoring my real conditions. My defence lawyers appealed to the media many times and pointed out that Bagmandspolitiet tortured me and asked the courts to allow me consultation and treatment from outside medical help.

Through all of the more than four years, the courts and the prosecution did not want me to get “outside” help; they simply did not want me to expose what had happened to me and my “mental scars” of the invisible torture. Mental scars which really made me unfit to stand trial. No psychological or psychiatric examination was carried out on me through all those years.

Denmark is a small place and such a great amount of press coverage both in the national and local press did considerable and irrevocable harm to the case and my rights to a fair trial and hearing.

Bagmandspolitiet had unscrupulously used the most important weapon to smear, discredit and disgrace my person – the media. Thereafter, there was no way back, moreover, the public would never “take back” what they had witnessed on the television and in newspapers.

The Danish media did create a trial by the media, a most pre-judicial environment for a fair trial. I am blameless by the prosecutions intrigues to create embarrassment and disarray among the clients of the companies. The media missed the underlying story and truth.

During my hunger strike in solitary confinement, more than 8 months before I was charged with anything (apart of the alleged tax evasion), an editorial headed “Easy Money” in the Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet said:

“Behind the prison bars sits the fantasy full director Hauschildt. It is difficult to take his martyrdom serious. But there is a positive outcome of his fraud he has cured some of the speculators who thought that they could score easy money with the silver roulette.”

No Interest in Strasbourg or Human Rights

Even after my long pre-trial incarceration, the Danish media had no interest to pursue the truth, when the Dutch, German, French and Belgian television were a the court hearings at the European Court of Human Rights on September 1988, the Danish media and Danish State Television was not there.

Despite this was a historic occasion as to Denmark in front of the full panel of judges for the first time since the establishment of the Court nearly 40 years earlier. The Danish media did not attend this Court hearing since they were an accomplice with Bagmandspolitiet and the Danish authorities for the injustice.

The Lies by Bagmandspolitiet as to Hidden Money Abroad – They knew this was a lie

The many headlines and lies were regular fodder to the media in order to allow the Bagmandspolitiet (Special Prosecution), to travel all over the place. The headlines with regards to hidden money regularly featured in the press during my solitary confinement.

The simple truth, when on the first day Bagmandspolitiet seized all the documentation and files from my offices, they knew about every penny I had abroad including details of all bank accounts. I kept all the details in my files in Denmark as I had nothing to hide.

All of the lies about hidden money from Brazil to the USA were created entirely for the media to justify all the costs and travel by members of the prosecution.

As to Judge Claus Larsen in the City Court, he had to be asked each time by Bagmandspolitiet with regards to allowing the taxpayer’s money to be used for “another” travelling trip – always after Bagmandspolitiet had already argued their case in the tabloid press telling them that I had hidden money abroad.

Practically all of my liquid assets were in London, not in Switzerland or any offshore place; moreover, I had offered to bring this money to Denmark immediately after my arrest.

When Bagmandspolitiet could not justify any more travel, they just asked a professional conman to go to the media and tell some stories about Brazil or the USA, painting a criminal picture of me. Headlines saying that I had hidden millions in Brazil and had been importing false gold bars to Denmark – were all lies.

The fact that the media slowly became committed after writing so many lies and innuendoes – all attacking me, played a major part in creating a public trial by newspapers. The editorial lines of many leading newspapers were to throw as much dirt as possible on my person, on my clients and my companies.

Worse still, the media took an active part in pointing out that I was guilty and deserved a long prison sentence. In many countries, such editorial lines would have stopped my case, as this was pre-judicial and not allowing me to get a fair trial. Denmark is a small country and this popular media coverage had devastating effects on everything and my right to a fair trial.

The tabloid press becomes committed and ultimately concerted against me, together with the Danish authorities, giving me an unfair trial.

Shortly after my arrest, I offered to bring all of my liquid assets to Denmark, but Bagmandspolitiet did not want this. Nevertheless, the newspapers later attacked me as making millions every year despite that I was locked up in pre-trial detention. Because I was making millions on interest and had millions abroad, I deserved to stay locked up and the public should not have any pity on me!

Denmark Is A Small Place

Denmark is a small community and is not the place for anyone who has something great to give. Denmark and the Danes will never allow real greatness in people; the Danish “Jantelov” apply.

There have been a few exceptions to this from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The real greatness is in companies like Microsoft, Apple, Oracle and Google and would be difficult to make in Denmark; they would kill them off somehow before they even got close to becoming something that they represent today. Some authority would have complained to Bagmandspolitiet or the gutter press “rendestenpressen” would publish some scandalous claims as to the persons behind the companies and their lives.

As to the media, there seems to be a bias in most news reporting; it is daily that we see reporters lie by inference and omission without any accountability. I have seen well-intentioned news publications fly into a state of high dudgeon and defend their reporter’s dubious behaviour on the premise of newsroom morale and press independence. Media publishers do have power without responsibility.

The Danish media failed in its responsibility; journalists made no objective inquiry to determine the real background of the events which took place on the 31st January 1980, moreover the damages which had been caused that first day with the closing of the companies. A few serious journalists, such as Leif Blædel and Rolf Bagger, later became aware of what was taking place, but then it was too late and the damage had been done.

The media really missed the underlying story and truth – the justice system reflected a political view where “profits” and “speculations” had become ugly words. The justice system had failed to furnish the mechanisms for preventing incompetent people from finding their way into the process, accumulating important responsibilities and surviving in spite of the glaring injustices that they perpetrate. Something the media in Russia or DDR could do nothing about, whereas in Denmark it had such possibility, but moreover the obligation to do something about.