Boy charged with multiple offenses including rape and hashish possession in Oslo

A 16-year-old boy is under investigation for allegedly committing sexual offenses against a minor, according to police prosecutor Hilde Hermanrud Strand. Earlier this summer, several children as young as 12 were victims of “Vipps robberies” in Oslo, where they were coerced into showing their account balances and withdrawing money. The suspect was arrested shortly after but was released after four weeks in custody when investigators deemed continued detention unnecessary.

Following his release, the boy was placed in a child welfare institution as he has no family in Norway. However, in early September, he was re-arrested and charged with the rape of another minor, which occurred on August 31. The charges have since been expanded to include sexual acts with children aged 14 to 16, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to six years. The teen is also facing charges for possession of hashish.

His lawyer, Cecilia Dinardi, stated that he denies the charges against him and declined to comment further. When presented for custody in early September, the Oslo District Court found sufficient grounds to suspect him of rape based on the victim’s testimony, which matched evidence from a bus photo. Nonetheless, the court decided to release him due to insufficient risk of re-offending, a decision that was later appealed by the police and subsequently overturned.

As of September 9, he has been held in a juvenile detention facility. Recently, he faced the district court again for charges related to physical violence, several Vipps robberies, and possession of hashish. Although the court initially planned to release him again with reporting obligations, the police successfully argued for an extension of his detention based on the severity of the charges and his potential danger to minors. Investigations into the rape case are ongoing, with police awaiting further analysis and planning to conduct another interview with the suspect. Meanwhile, a verdict for his involvement in the Vipps robberies is anticipated.