Cnline retailer Bol removes sex dolls from site post court case

Oneline retailer Bol has temporarily stopped selling all sex dolls after the conviction of a 38-year-old man for possessing child sex dolls that his lawyers said were purchased through the platform.
According to RTL Nieuws, sex dolls resembling minors were still available on the site on Tuesday. The dolls were around 1.28 metres tall and of different weights, and the adverts gave graphic details about their physical attributes. Selling or possessing child sex dolls has been illegal in the Netherlands since earlier this year.
In a statement, Bol stressed that offering child sex dolls on its platform is not permitted. The company said it is not liable for products offered by third-party sellers but does take action against partners who violate the law or internal rules.
“Although we do not know whether the dolls mentioned in the court case were actually purchased via one of our sales partners, the ruling is reason for Bol to take the entire sex-doll category offline for the time being and investigate it thoroughly,” the company said.
By Tuesday evening the category was still listed on the website, but no products were visible.
The man from Hillegom was sentenced last week to three years in prison, one them suspended. He was convicted of owning two child sex dolls as well as possessing, creating and distributing child pornography. He had also shared a nude photo of his own daughter online.
Chinese retailer Shein faced similar criticism last month after French authorities threatened to block the site over the sale of child sex dolls. Shein removed the dolls, as well as weapons, and was allowed to remain online in France.
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