Former employee at child welfare institution charged with abuse of four girls – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

According to the charge, it must have happened while the man was working on the site, in the autumn of 2023.

The police became aware of the case on 12 January this year, when the child welfare institution submitted a report.

The charges

The man is charged with four sexual offenses against a total of four girls aged between 14 and 15:

• Attempted rape of a 15-year-old girl.
• Sexual intercourse with another girl aged 14.
• Sexually offensive behavior towards two other 15-year-old girls
• Sexual intercourse with someone who was placed in a child protection institution.

Denies criminal guilt

The police state that the man denies criminal guilt.

Lawyer Thor Anders Smith Hoen has been appointed as a defender for the man, but does not wish to comment on the case now.

The conditions for which he is accused must have occurred while the man was working at the institution. He was employed there in September 2022.

Police prosecutor Stian Moltke-Hansen Tveten says the man has no criminal history. Nor should he have been employed at other Norwegian child welfare institutions.

NRK anonymises the institution to avoid identification of the victims.

The institution is aware that NRK is covering the case. They confirm having received a report of concern, which was immediately reported to the police and notified to other relevant authorities.

Assistance lawyers have also been appointed for the aggrieved parties, who are aware that NRK is reporting on the case.

Took his own life

On 12 January this year, the man was reported to the police. At that time was only one girl identified as offended in the case. It was done arranged questioning of the girl who revealed that there were probably several victims, police attorney Tveten says:

– Then, after the interrogations of the other three girls, unfortunately the first girl took her own life.

– How long was it after the interrogation?

– About. three weeks afterwards.

The police say they will not now say whether there is any connection between the assaults and the fact that the girl took her own life.

– Do the police connect what concerns the charge to the death?

– I do not want to speculate on the background for her choosing to take her own life, but it is clear that it is a serious matter, which characterized the victim during questioning.

The girl’s next of kin have been appointed a solicitor, who is aware that the case is being discussed.

Happy with the charge

Lawyer Dorthe Brubak Borgen represents one of the offended girls.

– She says it is difficult, but that she is happy to be taken seriously and that the matter is being investigated by the police.

Does not rule out more victims

The police say they are still investigating whether there may be more victims:

– This is a high priority matter for the police. We are investigating whether there may be more victims in the case. Bearing in mind that he has worked for a while at the child welfare institution.

The man has been arrested in connection with the fact that his house was searched and that he was questioned, but has now been released.