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The shocking case of a gynecologist who ‘raped’ 87 women in Norway – Firstpost

This case is considered the largest sexual abuse scandal in Norway’s history.

Arne Bye, a former gynaecologist, has been accused of sexually assaulting 87 women aged between 14 and 67 and filming the incidents both in his clinic and in their homes.

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The youngest alleged victim was 15, while the oldest was 67 at the time of the attack. Bye has admitted three charges of rape and 35 counts of abuse of position. The sun reported.

If convicted, he faces up to 21 years in prison.

Shocking details of the case

Allegations against the 55-year-old have revealed disturbing details about his crimes.

Bye is accused of filming the incidents both at his clinic and at their home. Image courtesy: Pixabay/Representative

According to the indictment, Bye allegedly inserted objects described as “deodorant-like,” “bottle-like” and cylindrical into women during examinations without medical justification.

One woman, testifying in court in Trondelag, said: ‘I thought I was going to die.’

Another woman, who initially visited Bye for a sore throat, said she ended up on a bench in her underwear after undergoing one of the invasive procedures.

“I thought he was my doctor, so I did what he said,” she said.

Many women reported similar invasive and unpleasant experiences. Some said Bye gave them “abdominal massages” during gynecological examinations, the British daily reported. The indictment states that these actions “occurred quickly and unexpectedly” in his Frosta office.

The small town of Frosta, home to just 2,600 residents, is shocked by the revelations, as Bye was both a public figure and a trusted doctor for years.

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Authorities investigating the former gynecologist found more than 6,000 hours of video footage, much of which showed gynecological examinations performed without the patient’s consent.

Officials have described the recordings as “sensitive and detailed.”

It is striking that the court has seen the graphic images. The video presented in court shows Bye positioning multiple cameras before investigations.

One of the women said that he had asked her several times to sit in the gynecologist’s chair. Image courtesy: Pixabay/Representative

In one clip, linked to “woman number 18,” Bye is heard asking the woman if it was painful and then warning her, “This is going to hurt.”

Despite initially claiming that the examinations were not sexual, Bye partially admitted during his testimony that he had been charged with rape. Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported.

State’s Attorney Richard Haugen Lyng told the court: “We have video recordings of the attack itself.”

“In that sense, we have a rather special evidentiary situation in the case, because large parts of the indictment are illustrated with video material,” says the prosecutor.

Bye defended the recordings, claiming it was to protect himself from potential lawsuits, although he insisted he never saw the recordings outside of the investigation.

The 19th woman to testify in the trial of Arne Bye revealed that he had asked her several times to sit in the gynecologist’s chair, even though she had no abdominal complaints beforehand.

She said the examinations “took a long time” and added that they had all been painful.

Another shocking detail: the woman’s daughter and sister are also among the alleged victims in the case.

The concerns about Bye date back to 2006

Allegations against the former gynecologist first surfaced in 2006 when a fellow doctor at a hospital in Levanger reported a disturbing complaint from one of Bye’s patients.

The patient alleged that Bye massaged her genital area during an examination. She also stated that other patients had reported similar experiences. Bye denied the allegations at the time.

Despite early concerns, action was not taken until August 2022, when health authorities alerted police to possible criminal offences. A formal investigation was launched, leading to charges being filed in 2023.

Bye remained in his position as a doctor throughout the investigation and was not remanded in custody. Police said they would continue to monitor the situation as there are no grounds for an arrest.

The process continues.

READ ALSO | Son of Norwegian Crown Princess arrested on suspicion of rape: who is Marius Borg Hoiby?

‘Royal scandal’ in Norway

Another major scandal recently took place in the country when Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, was arrested in Oslo.

According to Norwegian police, based on preliminary investigations, he is suspected of having “had sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or otherwise unable to resist the act.”

The accusation further complicates the legal issues surrounding Borg Hoiby, who has already faced multiple charges relating to offenses against four different people.

Reports indicate he has been charged in connection with crimes involving four different people: three women and one man, public radio NRK reported, adding that he has been accused of abuse in close relationships against all three women.

With input from agencies

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