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Rape suspect arrested following Facebook find

Published: 16 Jul 12 16:16 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/42056/20120716/

A woman used Facebook to identify the man she believes raped her in a park in western Sweden on Saturday morning, one of three rapes reported in less than 24 hours in the area at the weekend.

The victim, a 45-year-old woman, told police that she had been raped by a man who looked to be about 25-years-old in Kungsbacka, a town south of Gothenburg, at around 3am on Saturday.

After consummating the rape, the suspect reportedly fled the scene on a bicycle back towards the town.

The woman was able to identify the man on Facebook on Sunday and notified local police immediately.

Police tracked the man to his address, where they visited him twice on Sunday without result, however, the man later contacted officers upon learning that his home had been visited.

The suspect was told to come into the police station, where he was subsequently arrested at 10am on Monday.

Two other rapes occurred in the area over the weekend, although it remains unclear if the arrested man is suspected of these attacks.

"There's currently no reason to believe that these rapes are connected in any way. More like the other way around," said Jan Kapteijn of the Halland police to local newspaper Hallands Nyheter on Sunday.

According to a tally carried out by the Expressen newspaper, there were 21 rapes or attempted rapes reported in Sweden in the three days prior to Sunday.

Five of the alleged attacks took place in Gävle, Bollnäs or Falun, all of which are within 100 kilometres of each other in eastern and central Sweden.

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18:04 July 16, 2012 by Mxzf
I hope there's some more evidence. Usually when the victim finds the rapist while browsing photos or watching tv, false memories are created. :p

So if it's the right suspect, they might not convict him on just this.
18:07 July 16, 2012 by G Kin
I hope police have more evidence than just the woman's claim?. Police better do a better job before detaining the man,
19:40 July 16, 2012 by imbad005
Can you believe this.. what a funny Law it is.. I mean a women just accused some one of a rap via facebook and the police went on to arrest the (so called suspect!)..

Really Sweden, can you be more mature.. or MEN is always a suspect!
20:07 July 16, 2012 by bcterry
19:40 July 16, 2012 by imbad005

Can you believe this.. what a funny Law it is.. I mean a women just accused some one of a rap via facebook and the police went on to arrest the (so called suspect!)..

Really Sweden, can you be more mature.. or MEN is always a suspect! "

Umm, i'm pretty sure she would know that her raper was a "MEN".

A woman was raped, and you're concerned about how she identified her raper?

And your giving a lecture on maturity?

Priceless.
23:58 July 16, 2012 by J Jack
On being accused of rape in Sweden by fACEbOOK .. if you are innocent, take the nearest flight to London and seek asylum in Ecuador. The weather is better and the chicks are hotter!
01:24 July 17, 2012 by Nvd
Is there any right to resist custody if the blame is only based on Facebook picture?

I mean right for MEN?
06:33 July 17, 2012 by Ian C. Purdie - Sydney
Curious. I expect the story is very incomplete. Identified on Facebook? Police should surf more Facebook pages, obviously this valuable crime solving tool has previously been overlooked.

NO, this is Sweden where apparently only "your government" can determine whether you have been raped or not.
09:30 July 17, 2012 by Reason abd Realism
This is a small town, and the victim is the best one to identify the face of her attacker. He might in fact have a distinctive appearance. If he is innocent, he will not end up in jail. She may also be able to identify his bicycle and clothing, which the police can now look for in his apartment. It is of no use for police to use facebook unless they already have one or more photos of the attacker. Until his arrest, the only photo that existed of him was etched inI the mind of the victim, so only she could make effective use of FB to find him. I agree with post 4.
15:35 July 17, 2012 by cupidcub
Come on.. do you really need to rape someone in Sweden ?.. just ask for it.. :D
13:19 July 19, 2012 by terriergirl
The author of this article should have used 'commiting', not 'consummating'. Rape is a crime which is committed. Consummation suggests something quite different.
05:16 July 29, 2012 by MitchXXX
II think Swedish women should be more careful. As far I can see they are not afraid to walk back home in the night alone. There is all kind of people out there so a little more precautions are not bad idea. Also I don't get this way of thinking: Going out getting drunk making yourself almost helpless and than going home by the public transport or walking or by bike late night. It is far too risky for a woman than for a man doing it. Getting a taxi to bring you right back at home is the solution. Find a sober friend to help you if you feel dizzy or to give you a ride. There should be a public campaign teaching the girls ant talking about the problem instead covering up this issue and blaming or relaying only on the Police to protect everyone.

About the rape now. Those who do it are psycho not just some ordinary criminals. They should be sent to special Sanitariums for such people with no access to the outside for some period. Simple sending them in prison does not work. If they don't show improvement after participating in special programs and evaluations by doctors and physiologists they should be chemically castrated or in more severe cases sterilized. After getting treated they should be let go home but the Police should constantly monitor them. Here I think a lot of voices will rise up about the cruelty and human rights. Well I don't know which is more important- to absolutely save the human rights of one psychopath or protecting the life and the human rights of dozen woman and their families. The system now is trying to make the Wolfs friends with the Lambs but it is against the common sense and the nature of things as well. And if what I suggest is done properly and from the right specialists would even help those people and keep them from the streets and from doing even worst crimes. What do you believe about it?
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