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| Norway: Doctor Arne Bye jailed for raping and assaulting patients | Norway: Doctor Arne Bye jailed for raping and assaulting patients |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Arne Bye was found to have abused his position as a doctor to conduct inappropriate exams | Arne Bye was found to have abused his position as a doctor to conduct inappropriate exams |
| A court in Norway has sentenced a doctor to 21 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of dozens of women, in a case that has shocked the Scandinavian country. | A court in Norway has sentenced a doctor to 21 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of dozens of women, in a case that has shocked the Scandinavian country. |
| Former GP Arne Bye was convicted of 70 counts of rape and sexual assault. He was also convicted of 82 counts of abusing his position as a doctor, Norwegian media report. | |
| Nearly all of the offences took place during medical examinations that Bye carried out on his patients while he worked as a physician in the small town of Frosta - a tiny community of fewer than 3,000 residents, near Trondheim on the west coast of Norway. | Nearly all of the offences took place during medical examinations that Bye carried out on his patients while he worked as a physician in the small town of Frosta - a tiny community of fewer than 3,000 residents, near Trondheim on the west coast of Norway. |
| Bye was also banned from practising medicine and ordered to pay compensation. | Bye was also banned from practising medicine and ordered to pay compensation. |
| Warning: this story contains details some may find distressing. | Warning: this story contains details some may find distressing. |
| The court had deliberated over a lengthy indictment, which included allegations spanning nearly two decades relating to 94 women, according to Norwegian media. | The court had deliberated over a lengthy indictment, which included allegations spanning nearly two decades relating to 94 women, according to Norwegian media. |
| Bye pleaded guilty to some of the crimes, and was also acquitted on a number of the charges. | Bye pleaded guilty to some of the crimes, and was also acquitted on a number of the charges. |
| Addressing the court in Trondheim on Friday, Judge Espen Haug said the case was "very serious" and described Bye's actions as "absolutely unacceptable". | Addressing the court in Trondheim on Friday, Judge Espen Haug said the case was "very serious" and described Bye's actions as "absolutely unacceptable". |
| "The defendant's actions happened in a place and setting where people are supposed to feel safe," Judge Haug said. "His actions have undermined public trust in the health service as well as doctors in general." | "The defendant's actions happened in a place and setting where people are supposed to feel safe," Judge Haug said. "His actions have undermined public trust in the health service as well as doctors in general." |
| The 55-year-old defendant stood on his feet, appearing calm and unmoved as the maximum sentence was handed down. | The 55-year-old defendant stood on his feet, appearing calm and unmoved as the maximum sentence was handed down. |
| The courtroom was then asked to sit as it took more than an hour for the judgement to be read out. | The courtroom was then asked to sit as it took more than an hour for the judgement to be read out. |
| Health authorities had first alerted the police to concerns about Bye in August 2022, and he was charged a year later. | Health authorities had first alerted the police to concerns about Bye in August 2022, and he was charged a year later. |
| Bye had secretly installed a camera in his office, Norwegian media reports. Police uncovered the scale of his offences after reviewing hundreds of hours of footage. | Bye had secretly installed a camera in his office, Norwegian media reports. Police uncovered the scale of his offences after reviewing hundreds of hours of footage. |
| Dozens of women, reportedly aged between 14 and 67, from the small, rural community came forward. The earliest complaint dated back to 2004, the most recent from 2022. | Dozens of women, reportedly aged between 14 and 67, from the small, rural community came forward. The earliest complaint dated back to 2004, the most recent from 2022. |
| Central to the case had been the methods Bye used for medical examinations. | Central to the case had been the methods Bye used for medical examinations. |
| Over four months, the court heard details of non-consensual touching and inappropriate pelvic examinations conducted by Bye. | Over four months, the court heard details of non-consensual touching and inappropriate pelvic examinations conducted by Bye. |
| These acts constitute rape under Norwegian law, which makes a distinction between penetrative and non-penetrative rape. | These acts constitute rape under Norwegian law, which makes a distinction between penetrative and non-penetrative rape. |
| Bye was also shown to have used non-medical equipment, such as a deodorant, during these exams, with no justification for doing so. | Bye was also shown to have used non-medical equipment, such as a deodorant, during these exams, with no justification for doing so. |
| The defence attorneys had sought a lower sentence of around 17-18 years as Bye had pleaded guilty to the rape of 21 victims. | The defence attorneys had sought a lower sentence of around 17-18 years as Bye had pleaded guilty to the rape of 21 victims. |
| Prosecutors told public broadcaster NRK that they were satisfied with the verdict, and would review the outcome before considering any appeals. | Prosecutors told public broadcaster NRK that they were satisfied with the verdict, and would review the outcome before considering any appeals. |
| Bye's lawyer also said he would take some time to read the verdict properly before considering whether to appeal. | Bye's lawyer also said he would take some time to read the verdict properly before considering whether to appeal. |
| If you have been affected by any issues in this report, help and support is available at BBC Action Line. | If you have been affected by any issues in this report, help and support is available at BBC Action Line. |