Arne Bye Faces Indictment on 34 Counts of Rape

Arne Bye's Indictment

Police initiated an investigation against former municipal chief Arne Bye in August 2022 after receiving alerts from the National Board of Health regarding potential criminal conduct. He has been charged with 34 counts of rape, involving 96 women as victims. Bye has consistently denied criminal wrongdoing and has declined to provide a statement to the police.

Details of the Charges

The Trøndelag public prosecutor's office has formally charged him. The allegations span from 2004 to 2022, highlighting a comprehensive indictment of 23 pages detailing how the crimes were allegedly committed during gynecological examinations in his office in Frosta. The charges also include misuse of his position as a doctor to engage in inappropriate sexual conduct.

• Defender Erlend Hjulstad Nilsen states, “Our client understands the gravity and extent of the indictment.”
• A discussion regarding the acknowledgment of guilt will occur in upcoming police interrogations.
• Victims expressed relief that the indictment is now clear, eager for the case to proceed.

The Response and Process

Bye has faced suspension since the summer of 2022 following complaints spanning back to the 1990s. Over 6,000 hours of video evidence have been collected by police, primarily of gynecological examinations. Many women describe troubling experiences linked to these examinations.

Upcoming Proceedings

The trial is scheduled for November 5 at the Trøndelag District Court, with an allocated period of 16 weeks for the proceedings.