Two agreements have been signed by Sweden.
The first concerns legal assistance in criminal cases, which means that the countries must cooperate when a crime has been committed, for example when it comes to gathering evidence or questioning witnesses.
The second agreement concerns extradition and enables the United Arab Emirates to hand over Swedish criminals who are in the country to Sweden.
– This is a very important step to make it more difficult for wanted gang criminals, financial criminals and big frauds who have so far been able to use Dubai mainly as a safe haven, where they could also invest their crime profits, says SVT’s crime reporter Diamant Salihu.
Expected to take effect in a month
Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) says that it is hoped that the agreements will make it easier for Swedish prosecutors to cooperate with their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates.
– And of course we must get hold of more criminals who are both hiding in the country and conducting criminal activities in Sweden with a base abroad. To bring them home, investigate them, prosecute and punish them for their crime and access their assets, says Strömmer.
The background to the agreements is that the Swedish police estimate that 600 criminals with connections to Sweden are in 57 other countries and conduct organized crime from there.
The agreements are expected to enter into force in one month.
– It will be interesting to see how many of the most wanted people try to leave the United Arab Emirates before then, says Diamant Salihu.
Luxury items can be confiscated
The agreements also contain provisions that will enable Swedish prosecutors to access financial assets in the United Arab Emirates. For example, it could be luxury items or apartments.
It also means that convicted Swedish criminals in the country in the future risk losing their assets and thus, within the framework of the legal procedure, are forced to pay back tax debts and compensation to crime victims.
– The signal to Swedish criminals is very clear: You will not get away and neither will your assets if you try to hide yourself or your money in other countries, says Gunnar Strömmer.