The former SD leader in Mariestad, Bo Heijl, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for rape against one woman and sexual assault against another woman.

Bo Heijl has previously served as both chairman and group leader for the Sweden Democrats in Mariestad and has held several important political positions within the municipality and region. The politician was arrested and detained in December, suspected of several sexual offenses that, according to the indictment, are said to have occurred during 2024 and 2025.

On Thursday, the Skaraborg District Court announced the verdict, and the court has determined that the woman in the rape case was in a position of dependence on the politician and was also heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident.

The investigation relied, among other things, on medical evidence, DNA traces, and notes found in the man’s mobile phone. In a note from the same evening, he described having had sex with the woman. Throughout the process, the politician has denied all allegations.

READ MORE: SD leader in Mariestad charged with multiple rapes

At the same time, the man was acquitted of several other charges, including two additional rape allegations and suspicions of offensive photography.

After the suspicions became known, the politician was suspended from the Sweden Democrats. District chairman Tobias Andersson (SD) has previously stated that a conviction would mean the man would be expelled from the party.

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