A 61-year-old man in Sweden is now on trial, accused of coercing his wife into sexual encounters with more than 120 men over a period of years. The case, which has captured international attention, began proceedings at a district court in Härnösand on Friday.
Prosecutors allege the defendant exploited the couple's isolated farm near Kramfors in northern Sweden, using surveillance cameras and drugs to control his wife and force her into sexual acts with men he contacted online. The charges include multiple counts of rape, attempted rape, and assault.
"He exploited her particularly vulnerable situation and fear of him to normalize his coercive behavior," prosecutor Ida Annerstedt told Swedish media before the trial.
The indictment further claims the man threatened to kill his wife, burn her with petrol, and cut off her fingers to maintain control. Evidence includes footage from home surveillance cameras that allegedly captured some of the encounters, along with online chats, payment records, and calendar entries.
The defendant denies all wrongdoing, claiming through his defense lawyer that the encounters were consensual and that he merely helped organize them. The trial opened with a closed session to protect the identity of the alleged victim, who has since divorced the accused and filed the police report that ended the alleged abuse in October 2025.
While Swedish authorities have identified approximately 120 men involved, only 28 have been charged so far, with most denying they paid for or had sex with the woman. The case has drawn comparisons to similar international trials, including that of Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, convicted for drugging and allowing men to rape his wife over nine years.
The trial is scheduled to last 14 days as prosecutors seek to prove systematic coercion and exploitation.