Ambassador contacts Irish teen allegedly raped by Swiss politician
The Irish Ambassador to Switzerland has contacted an Irish teenager who alleged she was drugged and raped by a prominent Swiss politician. The case has drawn attention to the handling of the investigation and the consular support provided to the victims.
Why it matters
The case highlights issues of diplomatic accountability, victim support, and the legal complexities of cross-border sexual assault allegations.
The Irish Ambassador to Switzerland has made contact with an Irish teenager who was allegedly drugged and raped dozens of times by a prominent Swiss politician.
The alleged abuse occurred over a 15-month period after the then 14-year-old girl, Paula, moved from Ireland to Switzerland with her mother, Iwona.
The accused, 57-year-old Patrick Frei, was a prominent Swiss politician and member of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
Iwona and Paula moved in with Frei in 2022 after he and Iwona began a relationship. Iwona told The Irish Times she caught Frei coming out of Paula’s room with a camera one night, prompting her to call police.
After arresting Frei, police found dozens of video files allegedly depicting him raping and sexually abusing Paula. They also found evidence of alleged abuse of Iwona.
Prosecutors say Frei drugged the women with “date rape drugs” to knock them out before the incidents.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in