A man initially detained for theft has had rape allegations against him dropped after new evidence revealed the alleged victim was a sex worker at the time of the incident.
A week ago, a man was arrested for theft in a Stockholm store, where a DNA sample taken from him matched that of a rape case involving a woman from October 2020. The man was subsequently detained on suspicions of this six-year-old rape case. However, the investigation has recently been dropped, and he was released. The turning point came when the victim provided new testimony during a police interview, stating that at the time of the alleged rape, she was forced to support herself through sex work and that the man involved was a client, who had allegedly mistreated her with payment issues.
Police investigator Jonny Petersson noted that this change in the woman's narrative has led authorities to believe that the man may have engaged in a sex purchase rather than committing rape, thereby classifying the incident more as a customer transaction gone wrong. There is an ongoing suspicion against the man for a minor theft charge stemming from his arrest in the store, contrasting the initially serious allegations faced. It emphasizes the complexities and often unacceptable circumstances surrounding cases of sexual violence and the disclosures that may arise over time.
As the investigation concluded, police expressed gratitude for obtaining the DNA evidence that clarified the situation to reaffirm that there was, in this case, no criminal offense committed, underlining the importance of truthfulness in such delicate matters. The case shines a light on the broader issue of how sexual assaults are reported and subsequently investigated, especially concerning sex workers who may be rendered vulnerable and less credible by social stigma.
