Representative image showing sexual assault.
Credit: iStock Photo
A disturbing string of incidents has recently come to light after a 55-year-old former gynaecologist from a Norway village was accused of raping 87 women, between the ages of 14 and 67, The Sun reported.
The former doctor, named Arne Bye, is currently standing trial over the sexual abuse allegations of two children — who were aged 14 and 15 at the time of the crime. The oldest woman who Bye allegedly raped was 67 years old.
Bye has pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and 35 cases of abuse, that may lead up to 21 years of imprisonment, the publication further added.
During the investigation, the police have seized over 6,000 hours of footage, inclusive of the examinations conducted by him without the patients’ knowledge.
“They were allegedly carried out on patients without their knowledge which officials described as ‘sensitive and detailed’,” the publication added.
During the gynaecological examinations, a ‘deodorant-like’, ‘bottle-like’ and one cylindrical object was inserted into the women without mentioning any medical reason for doing so. The alleged assaults ‘happened quickly and unexpectedly’ during the examinations, the indictment against Bye stated.
These incidents shook the residents of the tiny Norwegian village Frosta to their core.
Video evidence which was recorded by the former doctor was presented in the court.
State attorney Richard Haugen Lyng said, “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,” the prosecutor added.
Bye mentioned that he had recorded the footage fearing lawsuits and never watched them back.
Bye used to put several cameras in his room before beginning his examination, the publication added, quoting Norwegian broadcaster NRK that also mentions that Bye admitted to the rape charges in court.
A probe was launched by the police in 2022 against Bye. However he was able to keep his job until charges were filed.
As the trials continue, he has also not been remanded in custody.