In Sweden, a trial has begun against a 62-year-old man who for many years similarly forced his own wife into sex with strangers for money or barter.
The Monster with a Tattoo by His Eye
In a courtroom in northern Sweden, a man in a gray checkered shirt is on trial. He takes his place in the dock with a calm and unperturbed demeanor. He is distinguished from others present by a distinctive tattoo around his eye. According to the Swedish channel SVT, this man was once one of the leaders of the notorious biker gang 'Hell's Angels'.
At the beginning of the hearing, prosecutor Ida Annerstedt read the indictment. According to the prosecution, since August 2022, this man systematically forced his wife into providing sexual services for over three years. He posted advertisements online, arranged meetings with clients, and set prices. Investigators identified about 120 clients who took advantage of the woman's vulnerability. The enterprising husband earned over half a million Swedish kronor during this time.
The business was run with cynical ingenuity. The man forced his wife to participate in online broadcasts and record shocking videos to attract an audience. When clients could not pay in cash, barter was used. One of the rapists repaired the generator in their motorhome as payment, while another made a horoscope.
It turned out that the ex-biker kept his victim in fear, using classic methods of suppressing personality: intimidation and chemical dependency. The prosecution claims he deliberately encouraged his wife's craving for illegal substances and alcohol to make her physically incapable of resistance. When the woman tried to object to specific clients or humiliating requests, he broke her will with threats. The accused told her that if she dared to leave him or anger him, he would simply kill her.
By the way, the victim refused to attend the courtroom. She preferred to remain anonymous and observed the proceedings via video link. The victim's lawyer, Silvia Ingolfsdottir, stated that her client desires only one thing — justice.
The Husband's Administrative Role and the Cynicism of Lawyers
The defense of the accused constructed a line that provoked public outrage. Lawyer Martina Michaëlsdottir stated that her client completely denies guilt in pimping and rapes.
According to her, he was simply 'helping' his wife run her business, as she had asked him to do so. His actions were 'purely administrative': the husband provided technical support, set up the computer, and handled internet and advertising issues. And, of course, the defense claims that there were no threats, coercion, or dependency, and that the woman acted voluntarily. The only thing the former biker gang member admitted to was possession of illegal steroids for personal use.
However, the prosecutor provided evidence of recorded episodes where the woman clearly said 'no' to her husband, but he forcibly compelled her to service clients. Under Swedish law, such actions are classified as rape. Today, the retired biker is charged with pimping under aggravating circumstances, eight counts of rape, four attempts, and brutal assaults.
The French Precedent: The Shadow of Gisèle Pelico
This Swedish case inevitably recalls a story that turned the French judicial system upside down in 2024.
The story of Gisèle Pelico became known worldwide. The retiree from the quiet French town of Mazan lived with her husband for 50 years and bore him three children. Many considered this marriage, if not perfect, then strong.
But the truth turned out to be monstrous. From 2011 to 2020, her husband, Dominique Pelico, regularly mixed tranquilizers into her food. While his wife was in a deep stupor, Dominique invited men from the internet into their home. Over 9 years, 72 individuals committed 92 acts of violence in the couple's bedroom. The perpetrators came from various professions: electricians, firefighters, and a nurse. The ages of the rapists ranged from 21 to 68.
Dominique did not take money from them. His 'reward' was the ability to film the events and feel his power. The men would come, leave their clothes in the kitchen, warm their hands in hot water to avoid waking the sleeping victim, and commit crimes, each more horrific than the last. For example, one of the defendants knew his HIV status but still did not use protection.
As in the Swedish case, many rapists in France tried to justify their actions by claiming it was a 'consensual role-playing game with a paralyzed wife,' and the husband's permission was sufficient. The Avignon court did not believe these arguments. Gisèle Pelico, whose life collapsed overnight after the revelations, proved to be an incredibly strong woman. She waived her right to a closed trial, revealing her face to the world. 'They should be ashamed,' she stated.
Dominique received the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the other 50 convicted men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3 to 15 years.
As for northern Sweden, closed court hearings are ongoing these days. The police have managed to hold accountable only 26 buyers out of the identified 120. Many of them are getting off with fines, claiming they were unaware of the coercion, as the online correspondence on behalf of the wife was conducted by her bearded husband with a tattoo. However, for the main defendant, the prosecutor will demand the harshest punishment.
