A former assistant nurse at Danderyd Hospital has now been sentenced to prison after stealing jewelry and other valuables from patients for several years – many of whom were elderly, seriously ill, or dying. The district court determines that the crimes were both systematic and particularly ruthless.

The former assistant nurse Samira Jelili, born in 1972, has been sentenced by the Attunda District Court for multiple counts of aggravated theft and aggravated receiving of stolen goods. The crimes took place over an extended period. According to the verdict, the first theft occurred as early as 2020 and the most recent in 2025.

Several of the victims were elderly patients receiving acute care or in very vulnerable situations – sometimes unconscious or in the final stages of life. That Samira abused her position in healthcare has been a central part of the court’s assessment of the seriousness of the crimes.

– The two-year prison sentence reflects the ruthlessness and systematic nature of the assistant nurse’s criminality, said Chief Judge Louise Conradi in a statement.

In addition to the hospital thefts, Samira has also been convicted of stealing silver items from a private home connected to her partner. However, she has been acquitted of a charge of aggravated receiving of stolen goods connected to a specific piece of jewelry.

Jewelry Sold for Over One Million Kronor

In the investigation, the prosecutor was able to show that Samira sold jewelry to various gold dealers and pawnshops at least 122 times. In total, the value amounts to over one million kronor.

Since many of the pieces of jewelry were later melted down or resold, it has not been possible to tie each item to a specific theft. However, the money from the sales has been connected to Samira through bank transfers.

READ MORE: Assistant Nurse Samira Stole from Seriously Ill and Dying Patients

During the trial, she admitted to two of the thefts but denied the other 120. She claims that many of the pieces of jewelry were her own and that she received them as a dowry when she married in her twenties. The district court dismisses this explanation as an after-the-fact fabrication.

The defense had requested probation with treatment for gambling addiction, but the court found that the scope and nature of the crimes warranted a two-year prison sentence.

Took Advantage of Vulnerable Patients

The background to the case is a series of high-profile thefts at Danderyd Hospital that came to light in recent years.

According to the indictment, Samira used her employment to access patients’ belongings during examinations, surgeries, and care on the ward. Jewelry placed in special storage bags for safety later went missing – or had been replaced with fake items.

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Several affected patients and relatives have described how valuables with great sentimental value disappeared. In one case, a gold necklace vanished from an 87-year-old woman who was critically ill in the hospital and died shortly thereafter. In another case, family members found a toy ring instead of the real ring a patient had worn.

Police and prosecutors have suspected during the investigation that there may be significant unreported cases, as many patients were under anesthesia or unconscious when the thefts are believed to have occurred, and some had died.

Blames Gambling Addiction

In interrogations, Samira linked the crimes to a long-time gambling addiction. She described how her finances gradually worsened and how she used jewelry as a financial “lifeline.”

At the same time, she has largely denied the crimes and in some cases refused to answer questions during interrogation. Samira has previously been convicted of theft offenses as well.

Thefts Continued After Her Arrest

The case drew significant attention when Samira was arrested in December 2025 and later detained. After her arrest, new reports also came in regarding missing jewelry from patients at Danderyd Hospital.

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Hospital management stated at the time that an additional ten or so cases had been reported, raising questions about whether more people might be involved or if thefts have occurred in a different manner.

Police have previously stated that the investigation into further suspected thefts is still ongoing.