A Swedish man has been jailed for four years and five months after drugging his wife and coercing her into having sex with 120 men, in a case that has drawn comparisons to the notorious Gisèle Pelicot trial in France.
Details of the Case
The 61-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of multiple offences including aggravated pimping, attempted rape, assault and unlawful threats. The trial took place in the Angermanland region of northern Sweden.
According to the court, the man controlled his wife by plying her with drugs, isolating her at their remote farm in Kramfors and exploiting her limited social contacts. He also used surveillance cameras to record sexual encounters and threatened to kill her, pour petrol on her, burn her and cut off her fingers.
Comparison to Pelicot Case
The case has been likened to that of Dominique Pelicot in France, who drugged his then-wife and allowed dozens of men to rape her over nine years. In the Swedish case, prosecutors said the man sold sex with his wife to at least 120 men.
The court acquitted the defendant of eight counts of rape and three of attempted rape, stating it could not establish in seven cases that the woman's participation was involuntary, and in another case it was unclear what sexual acts took place.
Court Findings
Judge Johan Ahlberg stated that the man influenced and coerced his wife into performing sexual acts on herself, broadcasting them online, receiving additional sex buyers, and attempting to persuade neighbours and customers to have sex with her. This was often done through prolonged nagging and the use of unpleasant and condescending language.
The man denied all charges, claiming he helped his wife who allegedly wanted to sell sex, according to Swedish news agency TT.
Additional Convictions
Alongside the main suspect, 29 people were charged with purchasing sexual services or acts. Twenty-eight were convicted of a total of 56 such purchases, with two receiving prison sentences. Swedish law criminalises buying sex and procuring it, but not selling sex, as sex workers are considered exploited victims.
