In February 2020, the Swedish Pensions Agency received an anonymous tip: a man in his 100s who was registered at an address in Eskilstuna was alleged to have died many years ago.
An investigation was launched and the man was called to a meeting to identify himself.
But he never showed up.
Through the Swedish embassy in Bucharest, the authority received a death certificate showing that the man died in Romania in 2001.
Despite this, guarantee pension and old-age support of approximately SEK 1.4 million had been paid out since 2004.
Had access to dad’s account
The person who had applied for the pension was the man’s son who is registered at the same address – and who had the right to dispose of the father’s account.
– He thus had the right to withdraw money from the account, says prosecutor Nicklas Hjertonsson.
The case was reported to the police and the son is now charged with gross fraud. The Swedish Pensions Agency has demanded damages of SEK 750,000 for payments since 2012. The suspected crimes from 2004 to 2011 are statute-barred and are not covered by the prosecution.
Denies crime
The suspect denies the crime. He says in interrogation that he does not remember if it was he who applied for his father’s pension. When asked who else it would have been, he answers: “Maybe God”.
He also says that “done is done and I can not change anything”, but does not want to specify what he means.
The trial was held this week at Eskilstuna District Court and they are expected in two weeks.
SVT has previously reported on the extensive pension fraud – and the methods used by suspected fraudsters.