Arne Bye charged with rape involving 95 victims in Frosta, Norway

Last week, former municipal chief physician Arne Bye from Frosta was charged with rape and misuse of his position as a doctor. A press release stated that 96 women were victims in this case. However, a review by Adresseavisen discovered only 95 victims, as one case had been counted twice. Prosecutors Eli Reberg Nessimo and Rikhard Haugen Lyng clarified that the total number remains 95, correcting the record.

One incident of professional misconduct was also counted twice, leading to a reduction from eight to seven instances. The total number of rape charges against Bye remains at 88. This adjustment will be made official at the start of the main hearing, which has already been communicated to involved parties.

On Monday, investigation leader Eivind Gulseth confirmed that police had closed 99 cases, with 85 of these dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Overall, this brings the total closed cases to 114. Last week, it was reported that 15 cases were set aside after being forwarded from police to the prosecution.

Bye has consistently denied the charges against him. His attorney, Hjulstad Nilsen, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations while reminding that there is currently no guilty verdict in the case. He stated that the accused should be regarded as innocent until proven otherwise by a court.