Norwegian court jails doctor for decades-long sexual abuse of patients

A Norwegian doctor has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for committing dozens of rapes over nearly two decades.

Arne Bye, 55, was found guilty of committing 70 counts of rape and sexual assault during gynecological examinations of his patients between 2004 and 2022. He was also condemned for 80 instances of abuse of his position.

Bye committed the acts at his medical practice in the town of Frosta in central Norway.

The court in the city of Trondelag barred the doctor from exercising his profession indefinitely and demanded that he financially compensate his victims.

Ninety-four women testified during the trial, describing how Bye committed multiple acts of non-consensual touching and digital penetration without medical justification.

The acts all constitute rape under Norwegian law.

Bye also filmed the assaults.

"The suspect's actions make this case an extremely serious one. The actions are unacceptable," the Adresseavisen newspaper quoted judge Espen Haug as saying in court.

The sentence matched the one requested by the prosecution. Bye's defense had argued for lesser sentence, recognising only 20 of the rapes.