False medical student flees Norway – still not interviewed one year after exposure
A 29-year-old Swedish man worked for three years as a night shift attendant at a care home in Tvedestrand without medical qualifications. One year after the exposure, police have still not interviewed him.
Swedish man worked illegally as medical student at care home in Tvedestrand
One year after a false medical student was exposed at Strannasenteret care home in Tvedestrand, nrk.no reports that police have still not interviewed the suspected 29-year-old.
The Swede worked for three years as a night shift attendant at the care home – often working alone on shift. He cared for patients, distributed medicines and was responsible for handling emergencies. No one checked his background. An email with a CV was the only documentation the municipality received when he was hired as a temporary worker with duties equivalent to those of a nurse.
"Swedish police have tried on several occasions to contact the suspect by visiting him," said investigation leader Steffen Wam Schneider at Agder police district to NRK.
An anonymous tip to police before Christmas 2024 exposed the man. He fled the country the next day. Norwegian police have since attempted to reach him, but only now has it been clarified that an interview can be conducted via his Norwegian lawyer.
"The police's intention is to interview the suspect using digital tools. We have not got that far yet," said Schneider.
The 29-year-old's lawyer does not wish to comment on the case to NRK and refers to police. Police last contacted the lawyer at the end of January.
Colleagues were puzzled by the 29-year-old's execution of his tasks, and several concern reports were submitted during his time there – without consequences for the temporary worker.
In its account to the Ombudsman for Public Administration in Agder, Tvedestrand municipality stated that it never checked what the false medical student was actually capable of. Both the Ombudsman and the municipality reported the 29-year-old to police.
"We have not heard anything from police. We do not know what follow-up the report has received," said municipal director Jan Magne Stensrud to NRK.
Police in Agder are investigating the case for document fraud – that is, forgery or use of a false document. In this case, the document allegedly confirmed that he was a medical student.
After one year of investigation, there is still no clarity. Schneider will not say when the case can be expected to be concluded.
"The case is being investigated until it is considered complete. Any concrete timeline would be pure speculation. I choose to refrain from that," said the investigation leader.
NRK has repeatedly attempted to reach the 29-year-old without receiving a response.
Source: Google News NO — Crime