The Syrian Maksoud Abdulrahman was smuggled into Sweden by an SVT team and has since been repeatedly convicted of crimes. Samnytt can now reveal that Överkalix municipality has hired him as a care assistant at Brännagården retirement home – for direct, close-contact care of the elderly. The municipality did not check his criminal record prior to employment.

Maksoud Abdulrahman became nationally known already as a teenager. During the migrant crisis, SVT correspondent Fredrik Önnevall and two colleagues helped him travel from Greece to Sweden. Abdulrahman was then introduced as “Abed,” and the journey was documented by SVT.

Önnevall and his colleagues were later prosecuted for human smuggling and ultimately convicted, even by the Supreme Court. Despite the convictions, they remained employed at SVT – and the taxpayer-funded public service channel also paid their fines and legal costs.

For Abdulrahman, Sweden became the start of a life where he has repeatedly come into contact with the legal system.

Repeatedly Convicted

In 2019, Abdulrahman was convicted for violating the Knife Act. Since then, he has been named in further verdicts for, among other things, money laundering, minor drug offenses, and vandalism.

READ ALSO: SVT celebrity’s smuggled Syrian threatened hotel clerk and threw stones

Particularly noteworthy in this context is a verdict from 2022. The case stemmed from fraud against an 82-year-old woman who was tricked into using her BankID.

The money from the woman subsequently ended up with Abdulrahman, who was convicted of money laundering. Abdulrahman also faces yet another trial. On December 7, the Stockholm District Court will hold the main hearing in a case – unlawful threats – after an incident at hotel Stockholm Inn in central Stockholm.

A female receptionist has stated that Abdulrahman threatened her following a dispute over money. He is also accused of later returning to the hotel and throwing stones at the windows.

Abdulrahman denies the allegations and has claimed, among other things, that he was under the influence of narcotics and “psychotic” at the time. There is as yet no verdict in that case.

Now Employed to Care for the Elderly

Samnytt can now reveal the next chapter in the story of the Syrian smuggled in by SVT. On September 8, Överkalix municipality decided to hire Abdulrahman as a care assistant in elderly care. The day after, he began working and was placed at Brännagården’s special residence.

Are you talking about suitability assessment? Who makes a suitability assessment today, in any profession?

Linda Sandelid, Unit Manager, Brännagården Retirement Home, Överkalix

This is clear from employment documents obtained by Samnytt from the municipality. Abdulrahman is paid hourly and has an on-call arrangement, employed for the shifts that management offers and he accepts.

There’s also no doubt that the work involves direct contact with the elderly. The municipality describes the duties as:

“Performing user-/patient-near care work in special housing within elderly care.”

The decision to hire Abdulrahman was taken by Brännagården’s manager, Linda Sandelid, on September 8.

READ ALSO: SVT’s handling of the Önnevall case unacceptable from start to finish

Manager: “I don’t ask anyone about that”

When Samnytt called Sandelid, it emerged that Abdulrahman’s criminal record was not checked before employment.

On what grounds was Abdulrahman deemed suitable to work with the elderly?

– Are you talking about suitability assessment? Who makes a suitability assessment today, in any profession?

There has been much discussion in many places about including background checks as part of routines?

– What kind of background check do you mean?

It can refer to criminal records and references.

– In Överkalix municipality, there is no decision to require criminal records for staff who do not work with children. That matter lies with HR.

Were you aware that Abdulrahman had previously been convicted of crimes?

– Since we do not have the routine to request criminal records… no, I don’t ask anyone about such things. She continues:

– But if we are informed by HR or the politicians that we should request it, then everyone in the municipality will do so.

Since 2019, Abdulrahman has been convicted in six district court verdicts – including for violating the Knife Act, money laundering, vandalism, and on several occasions for minor drug offenses. In the money laundering case, it also involved money from a fraud against an 82-year-old woman, and he was ordered together with an accomplice to pay 40,000 SEK in damages. What are your thoughts about that?

– No comment.

Now that you have become aware of this, how will you proceed with his employment?

– No comment.

Well, I won’t be able to comment, because this is something I absolutely have no knowledge of. I can’t answer, because then I’d just be guessing, and I have no interest in basing my answers on that.

Linda Sandelid, Unit Manager, Brännagården Retirement Home, Överkalix

Do you think it is appropriate for him to work with elderly people?

– No comment.

READ ALSO: REVEALED: Yusuf Rahimi robbed pensioners – was sentenced to prison but is now employed in elderly care again

Generally speaking, do you think it is appropriate for someone with that type of criminal history to work with frail seniors?

– No comment. She adds:

– You might need to direct that question to the social director, since you are asking a general question.

But you were the one responsible for his employment?

– Yes, an intermittent employment contract.

But that means he’s there at Brännagården today?

– I never said that. That was you who said that, I never said that.

But the contract clearly states Brännagården, where you are the unit manager, is that correct?

– Yes.

READ ALSO: Home-care Syrian strangled 80-year-old and took her money – allowed to stay in Sweden

Is it also true that you always work in pairs at Brännagården?

– Well, I won’t be able to comment, because this is something I have absolutely no knowledge of. Sandelid continues:

– I can’t answer, because then I’d just be guessing, and I have no interest in basing my answers on that.

But we have the verdicts right in front of us…

– Yes, but I have no knowledge of this.

Isn’t it serious that you have no knowledge of this?

– No, we have no such decision that we are to request extracts from the criminal record in Överkalix municipality.

Do you think you should have such a requirement?

– My views are irrelevant. That issue lies with HR.

The elderly are among the most vulnerable and most in need of care in society. Shouldn’t something be done if there is a verdict related to elderly fraud?

– Ask that question to HR; it lies with them.

But HR does not make the hiring decision, you do?

– I didn’t say that, I said the matter itself lies with them.

But do you consider him suitable to work with the elderly at Brännagården?

– I’ve said no comment.

The conversation then ends.

READ ALSO: REVEALED: Gang criminal hired in home care – raped pensioner

Claimed Extensive Care Experience

The documents also show what Abdulrahman himself claimed during his job application. In his CV, he describes himself as “positive and committed” and writes that he takes great responsibility, is meticulous, and always keeps his promises.

He also claims several years of experience in health and social care. Between 2020 and 2024, Abdulrahman states he worked as a personal assistant to a person with locked-in syndrome, where the work allegedly involved extensive care and assistance at all hours.

READ ALSO: The municipality shouldn’t hire convicted individuals in elderly care – but the manager is convicted of assault

As early as 2019, he claims to have worked in home care and elderly housing in Östhammar municipality. There, his tasks reportedly included supervision, personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, and moving elderly people.

“The work required great empathy, responsibility, and the ability to create security for the users,” Abdulrahman writes in his CV.

Social Democrat Municipal Commissioner: “No detailed knowledge of the routines.”

Samnytt also contacted Överkalix Social Democratic municipal commissioner Niclas Hökfors.

Is it true that Överkalix municipality does not check criminal records when hiring for elderly care, and if so, why not?

– I can’t answer that offhand, as that’s more of a technicality.

We have found that one Maksoud Abdulrahman has been hired at Brännagården nursing home as a care assistant. He has multiple convictions, including for a crime involving an 82-year-old woman – and he is set for another trial in December for unlawful threats. Do you consider it appropriate for such a person to work in elderly care in your municipality?

– I need to look into this and get back to you.

READ ALSO: Daughter of demented 98-year-old: “Mom died in agony – staff wanted her to learn Arabic”

But surely you can comment on whether you think it’s suitable for someone with such a criminal history to work with the elderly in the municipality?

– I must ask to get back to you; I need to check this. I have your number, so I can call you back.

But if the routines currently allow this kind of person to be hired, shouldn’t those routines be reviewed?

– Procedures always need to be reviewed and developed in every area; we will investigate that.

READ ALSO: S-led municipalities among the majority yet to implement record checks in elderly care

But if this is true – and we have the verdicts in front of us…

– What was the person’s name?

Maksoud Abdulrahman.

– What newspaper are you with?

Samnytt. Will you review the routines if it’s confirmed that what I’m saying is true?

– I’m saying that routines must always be reviewed if shortcomings are discovered.

But you have no other comment on this, even though these are pretty serious crimes?

– Not at present. Since I have no insight into this case or detailed knowledge of these routines.

But surely you could comment generally on the issue?

– No, I won’t. The comments I’ve provided now are all I can give at this time.

READ ALSO: When imagined goodness takes precedence over responsibility – and the elderly pay the price

The commissioner, Niclas Hökfors, does not return with additional comments. Samnytt has also tried to contact Överkalix social director Jenny Liljebäck and HR director Linda Forsström throughout the day, without success.

What remains is what the municipality’s own documents show – on September 8, Överkalix municipality decided to hire the multiply convicted Maksoud Abdulrahman.

The following day, he began his job as a care assistant at Brännagården, tasked with providing user- and patient-near care for the elderly – without the municipality having checked his criminal record.