Doctor Arne Bye jailed for raping and assaulting patients

A court in Norway sentenced a doctor to 21 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of dozens of women, in a case that shocked the Scandinavian country.

Former GP Arne Bye was found guilty of 70 rape and sexual assault chiefs. He was also found guilty of 82 counts of having abused his doctor’s post, reports the Norwegian media.

Almost all offenses took place during medical examinations bye made his patients while working as a doctor in the small town of Frosta – a small community of less than 3,000 residents, near Trondheim on the west coast of Norway.

Bye was also prohibited to practice medicine and condemned to pay compensation.

Warning: This story contains details that some may find painful.

The court had deliberated on a long indictment, which included allegations covering nearly two decades concerning 94 women, according to Norwegian media.

Bye pleaded guilty to some of the crimes and was also acquitted for a number of accusations.

Addressing the Trondheim Court on Friday, judge Espen Haug said that the case was “very serious” and described bye’s actions as “absolutely unacceptable”.

“The actions of the accused have occurred in a place and in a setting where people are supposed to feel safe,” said judge Haug. “His actions have undergone public confidence in the health service as well as doctors in general.”

The 55 -year -old accused was held on his feet, seeming calm and tireless while the maximum sentence was pronounced.

The courtroom was then invited to sit because it took more than an hour for the judgment to be read.

Health authorities first alerted the police for Bye concerns in August 2022, and he was charged a year later.

Bye had secretly installed a camera in his office, reports the Norwegian media. The police discovered the magnitude of his offenses after examining hundreds of hours of sequences.

Dozens of women were allegedly aged 14 to 67, the small rural community has come forward. The first complaint dating back to 2004, the most recent of 2022.

At the heart of the case, the methods were used for medical examinations.

During four months, the court heard details on non -consensual and inappropriate pelvic examinations conducted by Bye.

These acts constitute rape under Norwegian law, which makes a distinction between penetrating and non -penetrative rape.

Bye has also proven to have used non -medical equipment, such as a deodorant, during these exams, without justification to do so.

Defense lawyers had requested an sentence of approximately 17 to 18 years old, bye had pleaded guilty to rape of 21 victims.

Prosecutors told NRK public broadcaster that they were satisfied with the verdict and would examine the result before considering calls.

Bye’s lawyer also said that he would take the time to read the verdict properly before considering whether to appeal.

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