A Norwegian court has sentenced former general practitioner Arne Bye to 21 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of dozens of women during his time as a medical professional. The case, which involves crimes committed over nearly two decades, has rocked the small Scandinavian nation and severely damaged public trust in the healthcare system.
Over 150 Charges Including Abuse of Power
Bye, who worked in the small town of Frosta near Trondheim, was convicted of 70 counts of rape and sexual assault, as well as 82 counts of abusing his authority as a doctor. He was also banned from practising medicine and ordered to pay compensation to his victims.
The crimes involved 94 women, ranging in age from 14 to 67, nearly all of whom were patients undergoing what they believed to be routine medical examinations. The court proceedings revealed that Bye secretly recorded these exams using a camera installed in his office. The evidence included hundreds of hours of footage and dated back to 2004, with the most recent offenses occurring in 2022.
Court Calls Acts ‘Absolutely Unacceptable’
Presiding Judge Espen Haug described the crimes as “very serious” and said Bye had violated a setting where patients are meant to feel safe. “His actions have undermined public trust in the health service as well as doctors in general,” Judge Haug stated.
Despite the gravity of the crimes, Bye stood calmly and appeared unmoved as the court delivered the maximum sentence. The reading of the verdict took over an hour due to the extensive list of charges.
Graphic Details Revealed During Trial
Over a four-month trial, the court heard disturbing details of non-consensual pelvic examinations and inappropriate touching. In several instances, Bye used non-medical items, including a deodorant stick, during examinations with no legitimate reason, which under Norwegian law constitutes rape. Prosecutors argued that his methods went far beyond any medical justification.
Legal Teams React to Verdict
Prosecutors said they were satisfied with the outcome, though they would still review it before deciding on any appeal. Bye’s lawyer stated that he would take time to study the judgment before considering further legal steps.
Health authorities had first raised concerns in 2022, triggering a police investigation that uncovered the full extent of Bye’s systematic abuse in the tight-knit community.
