The person was arrested on December 6 at Larnaca airport after a European arrest warrant was issued against him for suspected financial crimes. He was treated at a private clinic in Larnaca, Cyprus, for stomach ailments and chest pains under police guard, but managed to escape despite this, the Cypriot newspaper Reporter reports.
Police in Cyprus have released images and the public is being asked to contact the police department or nearest police station if they have information that could lead to his arrest.
In a statement, the police announced that the officer responsible for guarding the suspect has been suspended pending an internal investigation.
Background and suspicions
The Gällivareföretagaren is an entrepreneur profile that had previously been missing for over a year. He was arrested in Cyprus after being wanted by Swedish authorities for extensive financial crime. The extradition process to Sweden had already begun, and according to the plans, would have been brought before the Larnaca District Court the day after his escape, writes the Cypriot newspaper Reporter.
Cypriot police have chosen not to comment further on the incident and instead refer to the Swedish embassy in Cyprus. The embassy has not yet issued any public statements.
An escape that raises questions
The case has attracted attention both in Sweden and in Cyprus, especially around how the man was able to escape despite police surveillance. Several questions have been asked about the police’s routines when caring for detainees in private clinics.
The police are now continuing the work of tracking the man, while both Swedish and Cypriot authorities are trying to find out how the person managed to escape.