- Paula, an Irish teenager, was nearly deported after the arrest of Patrick Frei, a former Swiss politician, who is accused of raping her.
- The Aargau Administrative Court recently overturned the deportation order against Paula and her mother, Iwona, allowing them to remain in Switzerland and receive full social welfare payments.
- Following the court's decision, Ireland's ambassador to Switzerland contacted Paula, expressing regret over the embassy's previous support and offering assistance.
- Frei's trial is set for February 2027, where he faces multiple charges including rape and attempted murder.
- In 2022, Paula and her mother, Iwona, moved in with Patrick Frei after he began a relationship with Iwona.
- In September 2023, Iwona reported seeing Frei leaving Paula's bedroom with a camera, leading to his arrest and the discovery of video files allegedly depicting abuse.
- After Frei's arrest, Swiss authorities attempted to deport Paula and Iwona, claiming Iwona's employment contract was fraudulent and launching a criminal investigation against her, which was later dropped.
- Paula expressed dissatisfaction with the Irish embassy's response when she sought help, feeling that officials could not intervene in legal matters.
Paula, now 18, was just 14 when she and her mother, Iwona, moved into the home of Patrick Frei, a 57-year-old member of the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). The alleged abuse occurred over a 15-month period, during which Iwona discovered Frei with a camera in Paula's room, leading to his arrest.15
Following his arrest in 2023, police found dozens of video files allegedly depicting Frei raping and sexually abusing Paula. Prosecutors allege that Frei used date rape drugs to incapacitate both Paula and Iwona, who also reported being abused.
Despite the serious allegations, Swiss authorities initially sought to deport Paula and Iwona, claiming Iwona's employment contract with Frei was fraudulent. However, the Aargau Administrative Court ruled on 12 August that Iwona retained her residence rights as a Polish national, allowing them to remain in Switzerland while Frei faces charges including attempted murder and sexual offences. Frei has been held in pre-trial detention since his arrest, and his lawyer disputes the allegations, denying the use of date-rape drugs.2
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues of abuse and the legal rights of victims in Switzerland.
“The Aargau Administrative Court ruled that Iwona retained her EU/EFTA residence rights as a Polish national, allowing both women to remain in Switzerland and receive standard social welfare. Frei, who has been in pre-trial detention since 2023, faces charges including attempted murder and sexual offences, with his trial set for February 2027.”
