Two pupils from Sigtunaskolan, one of Sweden's most elite boarding schools, have been remanded in custody following a police investigation into a hazing ritual that officials allege escalated into criminal behavior. The two suspects, both young men in their late teens, were arrested during a police operation at the school on Thursday and formally detained the following day.
According to reports from the public broadcaster Sveriges Radio's Ekot, the students are suspected of multiple serious offences, including aggravated sexual harassment, aggravated unlawful coercion, unlawful threats, and aggravated assault. Legal documents indicate that the alleged criminal acts were directed at three underage victims and occurred on school grounds between October 1st and October 2nd.
A third student, who had also been detained, was not remanded by the district court and will be released. Prosecutors had originally requested his detention in connection with allegations of standard-grade assault and unlawful coercion, which were reportedly linked to incidents occurring across August, September, and October.
The investigation has shed light on what authorities describe as a problematic power structure within the institution. Prosecutor Lisa dos Santos noted that the school allegedly utilized a system of unofficial titles, such as "prefect" and "disciplinary head," which oversaw a series of punishments for younger students. "From what we have seen so far, several of these punishments constituted criminal acts," dos Santos told the newspaper Expressen.
Hanna Lindblom, the defence counsel representing one of the remanded pupils, acknowledged that her client admits to certain circumstances but denies any criminal wrongdoing. She characterized the situation as reflective of a "toxic culture" at the boarding school, describing it as a system deeply ingrained in the institution. "In this – how I see it – diseased culture, all the boys are victims," Lindblom stated. The other pupils involved in the case deny the allegations.
School management has responded to the situation by describing the events as "extremely serious," though they have not provided specific comments regarding the criminal suspicions. The school confirmed that teaching remains ongoing and that they are providing support to their students. Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket is a prestigious private institution that has educated notable alumni, including King Carl XVI Gustaf, former Prime Minister Olof Palme, and several members of the prominent Wallenberg family.
