A Norwegian court ruled Monday that the son of Norway’s Crown Princess, Marius Borg Høiby, convicted of rape in June, could be released from prison and placed under house arrest under an electronic bracelet while awaiting his appeal trial.
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The prosecution plans to appeal this decision, which could delay a possible release of Høiby pending the end of the procedure, according to Norwegian media.
Høiby, born from a relationship prior to Mette-Marit’s marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, was sentenced to four years in prison for two rapes and 32 other charges including violence against a former partner.
He was acquitted of two other alleged rapes.
Høiby appealed this conviction but remained in custody after the verdict. He had been incarcerated since February.
The Oslo District Court ruled that Høiby’s detention should be extended for another four weeks but that “electronic monitoring”, namely an electronic bracelet worn on his ankle, was sufficient to reduce the risk of “reoffending”.
“The accused must remain at home unless he obtains permission to go to work, school, treatment or to visit sick members of his immediate family,” the court said in its decision.
Høiby has repeatedly asked to be released to be with his sick mother, who suffers from a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that causes breathing difficulties.
On June 17, the Norwegian Royal Palace announced that she had successfully undergone a lung transplant, from which she is currently recovering.
