• Sweden's news in English
 
Convicted paedophile allowed to adopt
File photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Convicted paedophile allowed to adopt

Published: 29 Nov 2013 10:46 GMT+01:00

The man, who is in his 60s, has been found guilty of more than 90 crimes, mostly different types of fraud. The regional Helsingborgs Dagblad (HD) newspaper reported on Friday that the man was also convicted of molesting his neighbour's then five-year-old daughter in 2004, and was also suspected of raping a young teenage girl.

The man will now be able to adopt, after a review by the municipality's social affairs committee (socialnämnd) found that his risk of relapse was considered low, with all but one of ten members of the committee voting yes to the man's application to adopt. HD noted, however, that the public servants and the politically appointed board members were not given access to the documents giving details about his alleged sex crime. 

Furthermore, the newspaper noted, the claim that the older man, who is known to chat with young girls on the internet, did not risk a criminal relapse was not in any way explained in the tribunal's statement. There were no supporting documents to back up the assessment.

While he was never charged for the suspected rape of a 14-year-old girl, social services decided after the incident that he from then on needed supervision when spending time with his own children. A few years later, in 2007, the man was deemed to be in the risk zone for sex crime relapse, and his "probable victims" were underage girls. The review recommended that the man be given treatment and parenting training. 

The man now wants to formally adopt his ten-year-old stepson, whose mother he married in 2009. The mother recently passed away from illness but was alive when her husband applied to adopt her son and was interviewed by social services to give her consent.

The adoption application has the support of the boy's biological father. There are allegedly no relatives in the boy's country of birth that could care for him if he had to return. The boy is also known to have a disability.

Following reports about the case in the Swedish media, the head of social services in Helsingborg has decided to file a complaint about the investigation into whether the man is fit to adopt.

"I should have stopped it," social services head Dinah Åbinger told the TT news agency.

"I can only say that it was a weak investigation. There are questions that aren't described in depth and the investigation should have been resubmitted to family court even before it reached the committee. Because of that I'm reporting us to the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Inspektionen för vård och omsorg, IVO)."

TT/Ann Törnkvist (news@thelocal.se)

Your comments about this article

Today's headlines
Zlatan joins Sweden's growing billionaire list
Zlatan crept into Sweden's exclusive billionaire list. Photo: TT

Zlatan joins Sweden's growing billionaire list

There are more Swedish billionaires than ever before, an annual list has found, with 147 Swedes able to put at least nine zeros on the end of their bank account balance. READ  

Four in ten Swedes want New Year firework limit
Photo: Shutterstock

Four in ten Swedes want New Year firework limit

Swedes love to set off fireworks as they see in the New Year but new research suggests increasing numbers want the practice banned or limited to improve safety. READ  

The Local's top ten Swedish songs of 2014
You ain't getting any younger, says Swedish soul star Seinabo Sey. Photo: TT

The Local's top ten Swedish songs of 2014

The Local's music guru Paul Connolly hand picks his top ten Swedish songs of 2014. Put on your headphones, sit comfortably, and enjoy the best sounds Sweden has had to offer this year. READ  

Why 2014 was Sweden's hottest year in history
A beach in southern Sweden. Photo: Shutterstock

Why 2014 was Sweden's hottest year in history

2014 has been the warmest year Sweden has ever experienced, according to meteorologists. READ  

Swedes begging to fund Australia backpacking
Melbourne, Australia. Photo: TT

Swedes begging to fund Australia backpacking

As hundreds of thousands of Swedes head for sunshine over the winter holidays, police in Australia have reported a rise in young Scandinavians posing as bogus beggars. READ  

Imam says Islamophobia to blame for mosque fire
Local imam Samir Muric. Photo: TT

Imam says Islamophobia to blame for mosque fire

UPDATED: Police suspect a mosque in southern Sweden was deliberately torched on Monday, with a local imam blaming rising Islamophobia in the region. READ  

Analysis
Five consequences of Sweden's cancelled vote
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and acting Moderate Party leader Anna Kinberg Batra. Photo: TT

Five consequences of Sweden's cancelled vote

Analysts, journalists and voters are still trying to get their heads around the shock news that Sweden's government has cancelled plans for a snap election. With some help from two leading political scientists, here's The Local's beginner's guide to what happens next. READ  

Sweden announces date for new bank notes
A selection of Sweden's new bank notes. Photo: Riksbank

Sweden announces date for new bank notes

In autumn next year, Swedes will experience the biggest switch in bank notes and coins that the country has ever seen, a move that will include a brand new 200 kronor note and two kronor coin. READ  

Northern Dispatches
How I used fake sun to beat the winter blues
Sunglasses photo: Shutterstock

How I used fake sun to beat the winter blues

The Local's northern Sweden reporter Paul Connolly, has strapped on his sunglasses and paid a visit to an Umeå sun room, in an effort to combat the region's long, dark winter. READ  

My Swedish Career
Expat pianist seeks key to Sweden's music scene
Ho Wan Jeremy Leung says happiness is when music comes together. Photo: Private

Expat pianist seeks key to Sweden's music scene

For this week's My Swedish Career, Mimmi Nilsson meets Ho Wan Jeremy Leung, a British-Chinese pianist and music teacher based in southern Sweden. Rediscovering his passion for music, he hopes to pass on his enjoyment of playing the piano to others. READ  

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
Gallery
Your December snow snaps
Finest.se
Gallery
People-watching: December 28th
National
How Sweden's Christmas goat avoided annual arson
National
Why has Sweden cancelled March's snap election?
National
Swedes remember 2004 Tsunami ten years on
Blog updates

23 December

Editor’s Blog, December 23rd (The Local Sweden) »

"Hello readers, It is time for the weekly news round up. On a Tuesday? Yes, on a Tuesday. Most of..." READ »

 

22 December

A Tale of Three Cities (The Diplomatic Dispatch) »

"Today I am pleased to welcome a guest blogger on my blog, Sir David King, The..." READ »

 
 
 
National
Hoho: Estelle records cute Christmas message
Society
US-Swedish newspaper archive nears completion
National
Why Swedes aren't as good at English as they think
National
Sweden's wild carnivore population on the rise
National
Sweden seeks ban on foreign booze advertising
Gallery
Property of the week: Östermalm
Graeme Richardson/Swedish Lapland
Accelerated
Why are Texans coming to Sweden to make music with ice?
National
Meet the Italian sketching a new Swedish future
Society
VIDEO: The best and worst of Swedish Christmas
National
Second baby on the way for Princess Madeleine
Gallery
People-watching: December 20th - 21st
National
'Unprecedented' Russian activity: Armed Forces
Society
Interview: The Local chats with Melinda Gates
Society
VIDEO: Stockholmers try out Swedish tongue twisters
Society
Eight things to do when it gets dark in Umeå
National
Inside Sweden's first 'light therapy' school
Estelle through the years
Gallery
Princess Estelle through the years
Society
Why are there so many 100-year-olds in one Swedish town?
Society
Is it time to better celebrate Sweden's diverse identity?
Gallery
Property of the week: Huddinge
National
Why has The Local got a new logo?
National
CATCH UP: Russian plane in Baltic near-miss drama
Lifestyle
How my compass drew me to Sweden
National
The man whose memory you need to remember
Gallery
People-watching: December 13th - 14th
Sponsored Article
How to get your own office anywhere in the world
Society
The Local chats to Ruben Östlund, director of Golden Globe nominated Force Majeure
Lifestyle
Ten things to know before a Swedish party
Gallery
IN PICTURES: The 2014 Nobel Banquet
National
The Local's guide to the Nobel Prizes 2014
Education
Introducing... Education in Stockholm
Society
The Swedish Christmas market with a twist
Lifestyle
Why do so many Swedes have tattoos?
Society
Get 20% off Swedish Christmas decorations
National
Dewani family: We only heard half the story
Business & Money
Business in Stockholm: 'efficiency is money'
Gallery
Property of the week: Östermalm
Gallery
TIMELINE: Swedish honeymoon killing murder trial
Gallery
People-watching: December 7th
Sponsored Article
SIS: the thinking behind globalised learning
Sponsored Article
Introducing... Family life in Stockholm
Latest news from The Local in Austria

More news from Austria at thelocal.at

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in Denmark

More news from Denmark at thelocal.dk

Latest news from The Local in Spain

More news from Spain at thelocal.es

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Italy

More news from Italy at thelocal.it

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

1,595
jobs available
PSD Media
PSD Media is marketing company that offers innovative solutions for online retailers. We provide modern solutions that help increase traffic and raise conversion. Visit our site at:
psdmedia.se
The Local Spain is hiring!
The Local is seeking a new editor for our site in Spain to join our growing team of internationally-minded, driven, ambitious and clued-up journalists.
Details and how to apply
Counselling and Psychotherapy in English
Sometimes living in another culture can cause stress, confusion and feelings of sadness and loneliness. Talking to a professional psychotherapist/counsellor might help you. I am a UKCP Reg. psychotherapist. My practice is in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Contact me to discuss your options