Prosecutors seek life term for former Swiss MP accused of drugging and sexually abusing three women, including a 15-year-old

The charges

On Monday, the Aargau public prosecutor's office announced it had filed an indictment against Patrick Frei, a 57-year-old former member of the cantonal parliament for the Swiss People's Party (SVP). The charges include multiple counts of attempted murder, qualified rape, sexual coercion, sexual acts with children, and violation of privacy through recording devices. The prosecution is seeking a life sentence and an order for outpatient treatment during incarceration. Frei has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest in September 2023 and denies substantial parts of the allegations. The presumption of innocence applies.

The victims and the method

According to the indictment, Frei secretly administered knockout drops to two adult women and a 15-year-old girl over an extended period, rendering them unconscious and unable to resist. He then sexually abused them and filmed the acts. The minor, identified as Paula, was sedated nearly 40 times and abused for around 40 hours over several months. Forensic experts concluded that the victims were repeatedly in a life-threatening state, with the risk of suffocation, which led to the attempted murder charges.

It was like a dream, it was unreal.

The girl told the Tages-Anzeiger that she initially thought her boyfriend was beside her, but it was Frei. A hair sample later showed elevated levels of GHB, the colourless and odourless substance known as a date-rape drug.

The night of the arrest

The case came to light on the night of 4 September 2023, when the mother of the minor, Iwona L., woke up and found Frei missing from their bed. She went to her daughter's room and caught him in the act. She later described the scene to investigators.

His T-shirt was as wet as if he had just done weight training. He had something hidden in the back of his underpants.

She blocked the exit and called the police. Frei allegedly poured cola over hard drives before officers arrived. He was arrested at his home shortly after and has remained in custody since. He resigned from the Grand Council the same month.

The evidence

Investigators seized a large number of data carriers containing extensive image and video files. The evaluation of this material revealed the full scope of the alleged crimes and led to repeated expansions of the investigation and extensions of pre-trial detention. The recordings form a central basis of the indictment. Forensic medical experts noted that Paula showed no reaction on numerous recordings, even to intense stimuli such as pain, and was in a comatose state.

Even on intensive stimuli such as pain stimuli, she showed no reaction.

What happens next

The indictment has been filed with the District Court of Baden. No trial date has been set. The prosecution is demanding a life sentence and an accompanying outpatient treatment. Frei remains in custody. The court will now examine the charges and decide on the opening of the main proceedings.