THE son of Norway’s crown princess is set to be held in jail for a week as police probe fresh accusations of sexual assault made against him.
Marius Borg Hoiby, 27, has already been accused of having a sexual encounter “with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist the act”, cops said.
Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been accused of sexual assault[/caption]
Hoiby (centre) is the son of Mette-Marit (pictured here on her wedding day) and stepson to Norweigan Crown Prince Haakon (second right)[/caption]
A judge ruled on Wednesday evening that he is to be detained behind bars for as long as a week – while cops investigate claims that he assaulted not one, but two women.
Each claim against the young royal involves a “sexual encounter without intercourse”, a police spokesperson said.
Hoiby – the son of Norwegian crown princess Mette-Marit – was arrested on Monday for the third time since late summer.
He was previously detained in August after allegedly attacking his former girlfriend.
Early charges included bodily harm and criminal damage before he was released.
On Tuesday, police said suspicions relating to the August incident now include domestic abuse.
Cops took him in again in September for violating a restraining order when he allegedly contacted his ex.
His most recent arrest came after fresh information surfaced as part of an ongoing probe.
Prosecutor Andreas Kruszewski is alleging that Hoiby sexually assaulted a woman in her 20s in Oslo earlier this year.
Monday’s arrest came after 11pm as cops found him in a car with the same alleged victim.
Police also said a report was made against him for driving without a valid license.
Hoiby’s residence – close to where his mum and the crown prince live – has reportedly been searched by cops.
The 27-year-old has previously been charged with abuse against his ex-girlfriends Julianne Snekkestad and Nora Haukland, as well as with threatening a man.
The son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Hoiby is stepson to the Norweigan heir – Crown Prince Haakon.
Local reports say the Norweigan royal family has refused to comment on his latest arrest.
Hoiby was born in 1997 from a relationship prior to Mette-Marit’s 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon.
He and his step-siblings — Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20 and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18 — were raised together by Mette-Marit and Haakon.
Unlike them, he has no official public role.
After his arrest in September, Aftenposten reported Hoiby was blocked from accessing his mother and stepfather’s home.
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
