The shocking case of a gynaecologist who 'raped' 87 women in Norway

This case is being considered the biggest sexual abuse scandal in the history of Norway.

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

ALSO READ | ‘Won’t be ashamed’: How France's Gisele Pelicot, who was raped by 50 men, has become a feminist hero

The youngest alleged victim was 15, while the oldest was 67 at the time of the assault. Bye has admitted to three counts of rape and 35 cases of abusing his position, The Sun reported.

If convicted, he will face up to 21 years in prison.

Shocking details of the case

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

According to the indictment, Bye allegedly inserted objects described as “deodorant-like,” “bottle-like,” and cylindrical into women during examinations, with no medical justification.

More from Explainers

How ChatGPT is becoming everyone’s BFF and why that’s dangerous This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

One woman, testifying in the Trondelag court, said, “I thought I was going to die.”

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

“I thought that he is my doctor, so I did as he said,” she said.

Many women reported similarly invasive and unpleasant experiences. Some said that Bye allegedly gave them ‘abdominal massages’ during gynaecological exams, the British daily reported. The indictment states that these actions “happened quickly and unexpectedly” at his Frosta office.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

Were bodyguards involved in Charlie Kirk’s shooting? The many conspiracies surrounding the killing

Home to just 2,600 residents, the small town of Frosta is shaken by the revelations since Bye used to be a public figure as well as a trusted doctor for years.

ALSO READ | Strangled, body stuffed in car boot: How horrific murder of Indian woman by husband unfolded in UK

‘Sensitive and detailed’ footage found

Authorities investigating the former gynaecologist found over 6,000 hours of video footage, much of it showing gynaecological examinations conducted without patient consent.

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

Notably, the court has seen the graphic footage. The video presented in court shows Bye positioning multiple cameras before examinations.

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

Despite initially claiming the examinations were not sexual, Bye partially admitted to a rape charge during his testimony, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported.

State attorney Richard Haugen Lyng told the court, “We have video recordings of the assault itself.”

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

Bye defended the filming and claimed that it was to protect himself from potential lawsuits, though he insisted he never saw the recordings outside of the investigation.

The 19th woman to testify in the trial against Arne Bye revealed that he asked her to sit in the gynaecologist’s chair multiple times, despite her having no prior abdominal complaints.

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

In another shocking detail, it was reported that the woman’s daughter and sister are also among the alleged victims in the case.

Concerns about Bye date back to 2006

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

🚨🇳🇴GYNAECOLOGIST ACCUSED OF RAPING 87 PATIENTS, INCLUDING MINORS, IN NORWAY

A former Norwegian doctor, Arne Bye, is on trial for allegedly raping 87 women over 2 decades, secretly recording the assaults during gynecological exams.

The case, involving over 6,000 hours of video… pic.twitter.com/Zy19qWla20

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 24, 2024

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

Despite the early concerns, no action was taken until August 2022, when health authorities alerted police about possible criminal acts. A formal investigation was launched, leading to the charges being filed in 2023.

Bye remained in his position as a doctor throughout the investigation and has not been remanded in custody. The police said they would continue observing the situation as they lack grounds for an arrest.

The trial continues.

ALSO READ | Son of Norway’s crown princess arrested on rape suspicion: Who is Marius Borg Hoiby?

‘Royal scandal’ in Norway

Another major scandal took place in the country recently 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 investigation he is suspected of engaging in “sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist the act.”

The accusation further complicates the legal troubles surrounding Borg Hoiby, who has already faced multiple charges involving offences against four different people.

Reports indicate that he has been charged in connection with offences involving four different individuals: 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