The 27-year-old from Lund in southern Sweden has been found guilty of spreading the immuno-deficiency virus to a sexual partner. The prosecutor initially charged him with one account of aggravated assault, but the court instead found him guilty of the lesser charge of damaging another person’s health (grovt vållande av sjukdom).
The man was sentenced to 240 hours of community service, which according to Lund District Court’s verdict is the equivalent of one year in prison. The 27-year-old also has to pay his former sex partner 606,800 kronor in damages.
The two men met online, exchanging messages and agreeing to meet. Details of the one-night stand, however, have been described in different ways by the two men, according to reporting by the TT news agency.
The plaintiff has adequately proven that he was infected by HIV during the encounter with the 27-year-old, who has carried the virus for several years.
In Sweden, it is against the law not to tell a sexual partner about being infected with HIV before intercourse and sexual activity.
“Sweden has a communicable diseases law which stipulates certain rules,” explains the website of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL).
“One of these is the duty to inform, which means that if you know you have HIV you must tell your partner before you have sex.”
Doctors in Sweden must report cases of suspected lack of compliance to the law to the police, the organization further states.
“The sexual partner that is subjected to risk can report it as aggravated assault to the prosecutor’s office.”
TT/The Local/at
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