Prosecutors indict son of Norway's crown princess on multiple counts including rape
Oslo state attorney Sturla Henriksbø said Høiby could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, broadcaster NRK reported. The 32 counts include rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner and acts of violence against another. Other charges include making death threats and traffic violations.
Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has been under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested last year on various allegations of wrongdoing. He is currently free pending trial, and Henriksbø said there is currently no reason to arrest and jail him.
The prosecutors' office estimates that the trial could begin in mid-January and take around six weeks, NRK reported.
Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, and the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship. He has no royal title or official duties.
Høiby's defense team has said that he takes the accusations seriously but doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases, particularly those regarding sexual abuse and violence.
The royal palace said that it was up to the courts to handle the case and reach a decision, and it had nothing to add beyond that.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Japan Today
Prosecutors indict son of Norway's crown princess on multiple counts including rape
Norwegian prosecutors on Monday announced that they have indicted Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's crown princess, on multiple charges including rape after a lengthy investigation. Oslo state attorney Sturla Henriksbø said Høiby could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, broadcaster NRK reported. The 32 counts include rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner and acts of violence against another. Other charges include making death threats and traffic violations. Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has been under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested last year on various allegations of wrongdoing. He is currently free pending trial, and Henriksbø said there is currently no reason to arrest and jail him. The prosecutors' office estimates that the trial could begin in mid-January and take around six weeks, NRK reported. Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, and the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship. He has no royal title or official duties. Høiby's defense team has said that he takes the accusations seriously but doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases, particularly those regarding sexual abuse and violence. The royal palace said that it was up to the courts to handle the case and reach a decision, and it had nothing to add beyond that. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Japan Today
Mali's military rulers arrest 2 generals, a suspected French agent and others in alleged coup plot
By BABA AHMED Mali's military rulers said Thursday they have arrested a group of military personnel and civilians, including two Malian generals and a suspected French agent, accused of attempting to destabilize the country. The announcement followed rumors in recent days of arrests of Malian army officers and was made by Mali's security minister, Gen. Daoud Aly Mohammedine on the evening news on the local media. He assured the audience that a full investigation was underway and that 'the situation is completely under control.' It comes amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent by Mali's military following the country's pro-democracy rally in May, the first since soldiers seized power nearly four years ago. The military provided few details about the alleged coup plotters, what it entailed and the French national implicated in it, beyond identifying the man as Yann Vezilier. The security minister said the Frenchman acted 'on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilized political leaders, civil society actors, and military personnel' in Mali. There was no immediate word from France, Mali's former colonial ruler, on the man's arrest. 'The transitional government informs the national public of the arrest of a small group of marginal elements of the Malian armed and security forces for criminal offenses aimed at destabilizing the institutions of the Republic,' Mohammedine said. 'The conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved," he said, adding that the plot began on Aug. 1. The national television broadcast photos of 11 people it said were members of the group that planned the coup. The minister also identified the two Malian generals he said were part of the plot. One, Gen. Abass Dembélé, is a former governor of the central Mopti region who was abruptly dismissed in May, when he demanded an investigation into allegations that the Malian army killed civilians in the village of Diafarabé. The other, Gen. Néma Sagara, was lauded for her role in fighting militants in 2012. Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has long battled an insurgency by armed militants, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following two military coups, the ruling junta expelled French troops and instead turned to Russia for security assistance. But the security situation remains precarious, and attacks from extremist groups linked with al-Qaida intensified in recent months. In June, military leader Gen. Assimi Goita, was granted an additional five years in power, despite the junta's earlier promises of a return to civilian rule by March 2024. The move followed the military's dissolution of political parties in May. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Tokyo Weekender
7 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Lawsuit Filed Against Ohtani and Agent Over $240m Hawaii Real Estate Project
It's been another eventful week for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. He smashed his 42nd and 43rd homers of the season on Monday and Tuesday, but also saw his name plastered over the front pages of newspapers after it was revealed that a Hawaii real estate investor and broker had issued a lawsuit against him and his agent. They claim the pair got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Hapuna Coast that Ohtani was brought in to endorse. List of Contents: The Lawsuit Against Ohtani and His Agent Kingsbarn Denies the Allegations Ohtani Tops the NL Home Run Leaderboard Related Posts The Lawsuit Against Ohtani and His Agent According to The Associated Press (AP) , the lawsuit was filed in the Hawaii Circuit Court last Friday by Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto. They claim that Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, used their 'celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle' their role in the project. According to the suit, this was done 'for no reason other than their own financial self-interest.' Hayes and Matsumoto were subsequently dropped from the deal by their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital. The two men reportedly reached an agreement with Ohtani and Balelo in 2023 to use the player as a celebrity endorser for a housing project in Hawaii designed to attract luxury property buyers. The cost of the properties was, on average, around $17.3 million each. According to Hayes and Matsumoto, the pair had been working on the project since 2013. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs describe Balelo as a 'disruptive force' who 'inserted himself into every aspect of the relationship.' Kingsbarn Denies the Allegations 'This case is about abuse of power,' read the lawsuit. 'Defendants used threats and baseless legal claims to force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations and strip the plaintiffs of the very project they conceived and built.' It added that the defendants 'must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity.' Kingsbarn called the allegations 'completely frivolous and without merit.' Balelo's agency has, thus far, declined to comment. Large parts of the lawsuit are redacted, so it is unclear whether Ohtani had any direct involvement in the alleged behavior. This, though, is not the first time he has had to deal with off-field legal issues as a Dodgers player. In March 2024, he fired his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara after it came to light that he misappropriated $16.59 million from one of Ohtani's accounts to repay illegal gambling debts. Earlier this year, Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Ohtani Tops the NL Home Run Leaderboard That revelation certainly didn't have an adverse effect on Ohtani's game last year. He was named the National League's (NL) MVP and became the first member of MLB's 50-50 club (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season), helping his side secure their second World Series in five years. That form has continued into 2025. His 43rd home run of the season on Tuesday was his fourth in as many games and put him top of the NL leaderboard. Cal Raleigh is the overall MLB leader with 45. Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts Shohei Ohtani Denies Any Involvement in Gambling Scandal Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara Fired After 'Massive Theft' Claim Ohtani Produces One of the Greatest Ever Individual MLB Performances
