Norwegian doctor convicted of 70 rape cases

A former physician in Norway has been sentenced to 21 years in prison, the country’s maximum penalty, for the rape and sexual abuse of dozens of women and girls over nearly two decades.

Arne Bye, 55, a former general practitioner, was convicted on Friday of 70 counts of rape and sexual assault, as well as 82 counts of abusing his professional authority. Norwegian media report that the assaults targeted 94 female patients ranging in age from 14 to 67.

The crimes occurred largely during what were supposed to be routine medical exams at his clinic in Frosta, a town of fewer than 3,000 residents near Trondheim. Authorities say Bye secretly installed a camera in his examination room, and police were able to uncover the scope of the abuse by reviewing hundreds of hours of footage.

Bye admitted guilt in some of the cases but denied others. He was acquitted on several charges, but the court ultimately ruled that his pattern of abuse, spanning from 2004 to 2022, constituted one of the most severe breaches of medical ethics in recent memory.

"The defendant's actions happened in a place and setting where people are supposed to feel safe," said Judge Espen Haug during sentencing. "His actions have undermined public trust in the health service as well as doctors in general." Haug called the case “very serious” and the conduct “absolutely unacceptable.”

The trial, held in Trondheim, lasted four months and featured harrowing testimony from victims describing non-consensual touching and inappropriate pelvic exams. According to Norwegian law, these acts meet the definition of rape.

Investigators also revealed that Bye had used non-medical items, including a deodorant stick, during exams, with no clinical justification.

The Norwegian health system first flagged concerns about Bye in August 2022, prompting a criminal investigation that led to formal charges a year later. Bye has now been permanently banned from practicing medicine and ordered to pay financial compensation to the victims.

His defense attorneys had pushed for a reduced sentence of 17 to 18 years, citing his partial admission of guilt. Prosecutors told public broadcaster NRK they were satisfied with the outcome but would review the ruling before deciding whether to appeal.

Bye appeared calm and expressionless as the verdict was read. It took over an hour to present the full judgment in court.

His lawyer said they would take time to review the verdict before deciding on the next legal steps.