A hotel owner from Romerike and a woman in her 50s from Bergen face pimping charges. Police uncovered sex trade activities operating from a hotel room.
Authorities believe the operation continued for over one year. Tips about online advertisements led investigators to the hotel.
The woman allegedly rented an apartment at an Upper Romerike hotel from July 2023 through August 2024. She permitted at least two female sex workers to use the space.
Prosecutor Jonas Nielsen-Slydahl from the Eastern Police District said the woman approached women online. She offered to sublet the apartment to them.
Regarding the hotel owner, prosecutors claim he knew or should have known about the illegal activities. "Police will present evidence showing the hotel owner was aware of how the room was being used," Nielsen-Slydahl stated.
The hotel owner maintains his complete innocence. "We've become involved in this completely undeservedly," he told local media. The woman's defense attorney could not be reached for comment.
The trial is scheduled for January next year. Romerike is a district in southeastern Norway, while Bergen is Norway's second-largest city on the western coast.
This case highlights the ongoing challenge of regulating hotel-based sex trade operations in Norway. The prosecution faces the difficult task of proving what the hotel owner actually knew about his tenant's activities.