They exchanged letters with Holm • “He said he wants to contribute to fewer sexual crimes being committed”
The “Man of Nytorgsmannen”, Andreas Holm, has been detained on probable cause on suspicion of rape in Hörby municipality, against his denial. The victim is said to be a teenage girl. Andreas Holm, who has changed his name, was paroled this spring after serving barely two and a half years of his five-year prison sentence.
Journalists Ellen Pan and Jimmy Kirvesmäki have written a book about the Nytorgsmannen, after exchanging letters with one of the worst rapists in Swedish history. They have also been in contact with several of the total of 19 women who fell victim to him.
– It is extremely difficult for them that this comes up again. It was a long legal process and after the verdict and all, they might have been able to leave this and move on with their lives. There is anger and a sense of injustice about his release. Many of them were not mentally ready for it to happen now, and in this way, says Ellen Pan.
Therefore, he was released despite the risk of recidivism
After the man was suspected of a new rape, massive criticism has flared up and the correctional service has been questioned because he was released on parole, despite a documented risk of recidivism.
– They think that parole, being allowed to leave prison after two-thirds of the sentence, is reasonable. This does not take into account that there is a high risk of relapse. It is of course something that upsets people, says Jimmy Kirvesmäki.
Documents from the correctional service state that he “had ongoing misconduct throughout the supervision”, and that he had no motivation to be rehabilitated.
In freedom, he has several times been reported to have broken the rules surrounding parole, which included foot shackles.
– He would continue to receive treatment after release. But then he still didn’t have enough motivation, says Ellen Pan.
The Nytorg man’s letter from prison
When the journalists exchanged letters with the rapist, during his time in prison, several remarkable details emerged.
– For example, he has written that he himself wants his case to be used in a positive way and that he wants to contribute to fewer sexual crimes being committed. And given the suspicions against him that we know about now, that is put in a different light, says Ellen Pan.
At the same time, according to the journalists, the Nytorg man has hinted that more women than are known have fallen for him.
– He opens up more cases for which he was never charged. He is leaving the door open for there to be a dark speech, which is scary, says Jimmy Kirvesmäki.
The Nytorg man promised the authors to contact him when he was released, which he has done, says Kirvemäki.
– We have had some contact and started preparing a meeting, but we never got that far. He had time to be arrested before that, he says.
TV4 has asked the correctional service for a comment, in connection with the journalists’ participation in Nyhetsmorgon, to no avail.