Couple Charged with Large-Scale Assistance Fraud and Neglect

For several years, the married couple worked as personal assistants to a man with extensive care needs. They are now being prosecuted on suspicion of gross fraud, aggravated assault, and serious benefits fraud.

The couple, both 40 years old with Swedish names, were arrested in June last year, suspected of defrauding several million kronor over a prolonged period in an elaborate assistance fraud scheme. The arrest followed a tip to the police.

– This is a crime that stirs emotions. This is a vulnerable person in need of extensive support and help but who does not seem to have received it, said Kronje Samuelsson, the man’s legal counsel, to national television in 2025.

On Monday, the couple was formally charged over the fraud that began in 2020 and continued up until last year. In addition to stealing money from the man, they are also suspected of fraudulently obtaining assistance payments from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan). They both deny any wrongdoing.

The Social Insurance Agency is seeking repayment of nearly 3.5 million kronor from the woman and over one million kronor from the man.

Danger to the Man’s Life

According to Victoria Engelkes, who is leading the investigation, the man’s life was in danger and the accused displayed particular recklessness and brutality.

The aggravated assault charge concerns the couple repeatedly causing the care recipient psychological harm and leaving him in a state of helplessness by abandoning him without care and supervision during scheduled working hours.

– I maintain that they fraudulently claimed assistance compensation from the Social Insurance Agency and also appropriated the man’s income. The charge of aggravated assault is based on their duty of care as personal assistants to look after the client. Since they seriously neglected this obligation and thereby caused the man harm, I consider them guilty of assault, said Victoria Engelkes.

When the company where the suspects worked was contacted by the police, the couple was allegedly dismissed with immediate effect and the care recipient was moved to a municipal short-term residence.