Four Afghan muslim migrants jailed in Sweden for kidnap and murder of 68-year-old man after his family failed to pay ransom

[duluxe]

Four Afghans jailed in Sweden for kidnap and murder of 68-year-old man after his family failed to pay ransom​

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Four Afghan nationals living in Sweden have been convicted for the gruesome murder of a 68-year-old man they kidnapped in southern Stockholm and beat to death after his family failed to pay a ransom demand.

The elderly man was accosted near his home in Skärholmen and subsequently reported missing by his family on April 29 last year.

A Swedish court heard how the victim was beaten, tied up, and placed in the trunk of a vehicle where he succumbed to severe bleeding and possible brain damage.

Following the kidnap, the Afghan gang contacted his family by text, demanding a ransom of $45,000 (€42,000) for his release. In the message published by the Samnytt news site, the kidnappers told the family a time and a place to hand over the funds, warning them that if they were late or involved the authorities, they could “collect the pieces” of their loved one.

The ransom message received by the family, translated from Arabic into English. (police)
It is unclear when the victim died during the kidnapping process, but his body was found at the side of the E4 highway near Jönköping two days after his family reported him missing.

Mohamed Musavi, a 34-year-old Afghan citizen, was sentenced to life in prison for murder and human trafficking. The court ruled that he would be expelled from Sweden after serving his sentence, with no possibility of return.

Two younger men, also Afghan nationals, were also convicted of human trafficking. Musawer Abdul Ahmadi, 20, received a prison sentence of five years and ten months and will be deported upon release; and Ilia Farzad, now 18 but 17 at the time of the crime, was sentenced to one year and eight months in closed youth care. Due to his age at the time of the crime, he will not be deported.

Additionally, Nazanin Hassan Ali, a 25-year-old Afghan woman, was convicted of attempted protection of criminals after being found to have purchased flights for the other defendants who managed to flee the country, only to be arrested in Italy under a European arrest warrant and extradited back to Sweden to face trial.

Ali received a conditional sentence and community service despite previous convictions for theft. She will be allowed to remain in Sweden.

Surveillance footage played a crucial role in tracking down the perpetrators. It showed the suspects purchasing silver tape and later driving around in the rental car, which was found to have significant traces of the victim’s body.

the rental vehicle showed the extent of the victim’s bleeding as he was locked in the trunk. (police)
Further evidence pointed to Musavi, who was seen alone at various gas stations and later purchasing cleaning supplies in an attempt to cover up the evidence.

two of the defendants were caught on CCTV purchasing silver duct tape. (police)
The costs of the convicted individuals’ legal defense amounted to over SEK 2 million (€180,000) — a burden that will be covered by Swedish taxpayers.