Marius Borg Høiby, the 27-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been arrested in Oslo on suspicion of rape. According to CNN, Høiby was detained on Monday and faces a preliminary charge of engaging in a sexual act with someone who was unconscious or unable to resist. Police clarified that the accusation involves a “sexual act without intercourse.” Authorities have not disclosed when the alleged incident occurred.
The alleged victim, a woman in her 20s, reportedly met Høiby on the day of the incident and was not in a romantic relationship with him, according to her lawyer, Hege Salomon. Salomon stated that her client “is having a hard time” and emphasized that it was the police, not her client, who initiated the case.
Høiby has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense attorney, Øyvind Bratlien, told Norwegian state broadcaster NRK on Tuesday that Høiby is cooperating with authorities and wants to share his side of the story. The Royal Palace has refrained from commenting, with communications advisor Simen Sund directing all inquiries to the police and Høiby’s attorney.
Previous Legal Troubles
This is not Høiby’s first encounter with the law. In August, he was detained on charges of bodily harm and criminal damage. The following month, he was arrested again for allegedly violating a restraining order. In the wake of these incidents, Høiby publicly acknowledged his struggles with substance abuse.
“I have struggled with substance abuse for a long time,” he said in a statement in August, adding that he planned to “resume” treatment and take it “very seriously.”
A Complicated Past
Born in 1997 from Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby was raised alongside his step-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18. While he does not hold a royal title, Høiby has often been in the public eye due to his family connections.
As investigations into the case continue, the Royal Palace and Høiby’s legal team have maintained their silence, leaving the public to await further updates on this high-profile case.
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