A 61-year-old man is currently on trial in Sweden, facing serious accusations of forcing his wife into sexual relationships with more than 120 individuals. The case has attracted significant international attention.
Prosecutors allege that the defendant utilized the isolated location of their farm near Kramfors in northern Sweden. Furthermore, they contend he employed surveillance cameras and drugs to compel his wife to engage in sexual acts with men he located online. The man denies these accusations, asserting that the encounters were consensual and that his involvement was limited to organizing them.
This trial is drawing comparisons to a high-profile case involving Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted of drugging and facilitating the rape of his then-wife over a nine-year period. The trial commenced in Härnösand, a coastal town on Sweden’s eastern seaboard. Reports indicate the defendant remained motionless as the charges were read.
Legal Proceedings and Victim Protection
The court subsequently moved to a closed session to safeguard the identity of the alleged victim. She remains unidentified publicly and has since divorced her husband. The former husband’s identity is also not publicly disclosed, beyond his age.
According to the indictment, the alleged coercion began in 2022, with the wife being forced to have sexual relations with men who traveled to their isolated property in exchange for payment. This alleged pattern of abuse reportedly continued until the woman filed a police report in October 2025. Earlier this year, the man was formally charged with a series of offenses, including multiple counts of rape, attempted rape, and assault.
Prosecution’s Strategy and Evidence
Prosecutors intend to demonstrate in court how the man allegedly administered drugs to his wife to diminish her resistance and exploited their remote home and her limited social circle to maintain control. Ida Annerstedt, a prosecutor, stated prior to the trial that the man had “exploited her particularly vulnerable situation” and “fear of him” to normalize his coercive behavior.
The accused is also charged with installing surveillance cameras within their home, some of which reportedly captured sexual encounters. Footage from these cameras is expected to be presented as evidence. The indictment also includes allegations that the man threatened to kill his wife, pour gasoline on her, burn her, and sever her fingers, according to public broadcaster SVT.
Involvement of Other Individuals and Defense Stance
Swedish authorities have identified 120 men as potentially involved, though only 28 have been charged thus far in connection with the case. Many of these men are reportedly denying the allegations, claiming either no sexual contact occurred or no payment was made for such acts.
Prosecutors plan to use evidence such as online chat logs, payment records, and calendar entries to support their case. Martina Michaelsdotter Olsson, the defense lawyer, informed SVT at the trial’s outset that her client does not concur with the prosecution’s portrayal of events, stating he does not recognize “the same picture as the one the prosecutor presents.”
The trial is scheduled to continue for 14 days.