A scandal has emerged in Norway involving a member of one of Europe’s best-known royal families.
The stepson of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been hit with serious criminal charges of sexual misconduct.
As Fox News reports, Marius Borg Hoiby has been charged with several counts bodily harm, rape, and sexual assault.
According to the outlet, the formal charges emerged after a probe of a series of arrests involving Hoiby last year.
In the words of Oslo Police attorney Andreas Kruszewski, the alleged number of victims in Hoiby’s crimes totals in the “double-digits.”
It makes the situation all the more jarring for the royals to whom he is closely linked.
However, the total number of individuals related to the eventual charges was reduced to seven.
Charges now pending against the 28-year-old Hoiby include rape with intercourse, rape without intercourse, several counts of sexual assault, and another two counts involving bodily harm,
Despite the severity of the claims against him, it is reported that Hoiby remained cooperative while undergoing questioning by police.
The probe of Hoiby was said by authorities to have included interviews with a “large number” of witnesses, premises searches, as well as a comprehensive review of “digital material.”
As the New York Post notes, Hoiby was once referred to in the press as “Little Marius.”
He has admitted his prior addiction to cocaine.
His defense lawyer, Petar Sekulic, stated that his client is “absolutely taking the accusations very seriously.”
With that said, however, Sekulic added that Hoiby “doesn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases — especially the cases involving sexual abuse and violence”
Hoiby, at one time, resided with the Crown Prince and Princess as well as their two younger children.
However, he now lives in another home in the vicinity.
The royal palace declined to comment on the situation as the case progresses through “normal procedures.”
Though Hoiby received all the wealth and privilege of his siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.
His life has been a rocky one, due in part to the aforementioned battles with addiction.
Morton Borg, Hoiby’s biological father, previously served prison time for offenses involving drugs and violence, suggesting that perhaps, if the allegations are true, despite his son’s vast opportunities and resources, the apple did not fall far from the tree.
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