Swede 'held in cabin for years'

A Swedish woman may have been locked up in a small cabin for nine years by her partner, Swedish newspaper reports say.

The woman, 68, who is seriously ill and weighs less than 40kg, has been taken to hospital, media reports say.

Her partner has been arrested and charged with offences relating to her imprisonment. He denies the charges.

Police declined to comment further until after a court hearing in Eksjo, in the southern region of Smaland, later on Friday.

The reports appeared in the Smalands-Tidningen newspaper and the national daily Svenska Dagbladet.

Although police have not revealed details, a request for a public defence lawyer contained information suggesting the woman could have been confined for nine years, Smalands-Tidningen reported.

It said the man - also in his 60s - had initially been investigated for allegedly abusing his partner.

Police spoke to witnesses and then brought the man in for questioning.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred near Eksjo.