Marius Borg Høiby, a young member of the Norwegian royal family, was arrested late Monday for rape — his third arrest in as many months.
The 27-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and convicted felon Morten Borg, is currently being held in Greenland, according to the translation of release issued Tuesday by the Oslo Police District.
Høiby’s stepfather is heir-apparent Crown Prince Haakon,
Police say Høiby committed a “sexual act without intercourse” with a woman in her 20s who was “unable to resist the act.” Authorities said the two did not know each other prior to the day of the alleged attack.
Police said they expanded charges against Høiby to include a penal code violation, which “applies to sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist the act.”
The expanded charges also apply to abuse in close relationships as well as violating a restraining order against one of Høiby’s five alleged victims, one of whom is a man he allegedly threatened to kill. Høiby allegedly abused three women with whom he was in close relationships, according to Norwegian outlet NRK.
In August, police said Høiby was detained after “psychologically and physically” attacking a woman with whom he was in a relationship. He was arrested again the following month for allegedly violating a restraining order.
Høiby, who is also accused of driving without a valid driver’s license, denies the rape allegations.
Authorities took Høiby into custody just after 11 p.m. local time Monday, when they found him and one of his alleged victims in a car near Skaugum, the Oslo-area estate occupied by Høiby, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
Police said they searched and seized the home but did not detail what was seized.
NRK reports that Crown Prince Haakon was not notified in advance about Monday’s arrest.
At the time of publication, Høiby, who does not hold a public royal role, was still in custody, with police remaining mum on whether he will be remanded. He could be released as early as Wednesday.
