The Danish father of a five-year-old boy, whose Austrian mother contests the father’s parental custody ruling in Denmark, has surprisingly appeared in court in Austria where he is charged with kidnapping his son.

Thomas Sørensen, who has sole custody of his son in Denmark, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“Because I, and I alone have parental custody in Denmark,” Sørensen tells the Austrian News Agency APA.

Last Friday, the Bailiff’s Court in Elsinore returned a verdict that five-year-old Oliver should live with his father in Denmark, setting aside a demand by the boy’s mother that he be returned to Austria. It was on April 3 this year that Sørensen took the boy, as the child was being taken to a kindergarten in Graz in Austria.

Sørensen’s estranged wife, who has been awarded custody in Austria, is contesting the Danish court’s decision.

Austrian authorities have previously asked for Sørensen to be extradited to Austria to face charges, but the Danish Justice Ministry declined the request as Sørensen had not done anything illegal in Denmark.

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