The prosecution is seeking measures for his detention for up to four weeks, due to concerns about the possibility of reoffending. Høybi has admitted to some less serious offenses but denies the more serious charges. Several of his former partners are acting as plaintiffs, and the court has prohibited him from contacting them.
If found guilty, he could face up to 16 years in prison. The trial is expected to last until mid-March and has already caused significant public outcry in Norway.
At the same time, a new scandal has emerged surrounding the royal family. Documents published in the U.S. indicate that Høybi's mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, maintained a relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from 2011 to 2014.
According to Norwegian media, Mette-Marit's name is mentioned over a thousand times in the materials published by the U.S. Department of Justice. On Saturday, the crown princess publicly apologized, calling these connections a "shame." The royal court confirmed that in 2013 she spent several days at Epstein's residence in Palm Beach and met with him, but did not visit his private island.
Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 and brought her son from a previous marriage into the royal family. Haakon is the heir to the Norwegian throne.
