Violence and abuse in elderly care continues across the country. This time, attention is directed to Värmland, where an Afghan man employed in home care in Karlstad is now charged with robbing a woman in her 90s. The man entered the woman’s home and, with the help of wire cutters, cut off jewelry from her body while she was lying in bed. The Afghan cannot be deported because he has obtained Swedish citizenship.
On February 21, 30-year-old Afghan Ali Hashmi used a key provided by the municipality to enter the home of a woman in her 90s while wearing a disguise.
At the time of the incident, he was no longer authorized to be in her apartment. Prior to being assigned a new work area within home care, however, he had been responsible for the woman’s care for about two years.
During the robbery, wire cutters were used to remove jewelry from the woman’s body. In police interviews, the woman recounted her terror as the Afghan man frantically tried to get the jewelry off.
– Yes, what is he doing? He’s just standing there staring at me in a strange way. And he doesn’t say anything, the Swedish pensioner said about the fear she felt with the Afghan at her bedside.
“I got very scared”
After the robbery in the apartment, bruising was found on the woman’s arm, something that was documented by the police during their technical investigation.
– He was very rough. He was, and it hurt. And then I… I got very scared, the pensioner recalled about the fear she experienced in her home.
Sold the Pensioner’s Jewelry
According to court documents from Värmland District Court, police secured surveillance footage showing the home care worker selling the pensioner’s jewelry to a jeweler in Örebro. The investigation states that the sale brought in around 30,000 kronor.
It is precisely the surveillance footage that causes the Afghan to give up during the police interview.
– I have nothing to say. You can see everything in the footage, so you know. I admit my crime. I admit my crime, so to speak. I take responsibility, he said and continued:
– I take responsibility for everything. I admit my crime. I made a mistake.
Cannot Be Deported
Despite Ali Hashmi’s confession and the serious nature of the crime in the pensioner’s home, deportation to his home country is not an option. The reason is that he is now a Swedish citizen.
Ali Hashmi also appears in the criminal registry for a previous offense related to a traffic incident.
Suspected Accomplice in the Robbery
On May 5, charges were brought against Ali Sayed Hashmi, 30, and another 30-year-old compatriot from Afghanistan who is suspected of being involved in the crimes in the pensioner’s home. The second man, however, denies the allegations.
The trial against the Afghans begins in Värmland District Court in May. The municipality of Karlstad reports that the Afghan who confessed to the crime is no longer employed in elderly care.