Fresh evidence has emerged in the case of a Swedish fugitive’s escape from a private clinic in Larnaca, implicating further a 54-year-old lawyer and a 44-year-old police officer.
The Criminal Investigation Department’s probe has revealed significant involvement of both suspects in the December 22 escape of the 49-year-old Swedish national, who is wanted for fraud exceeding €90 million in his home country.
The Larnaca District Court yesterday extended the detention of all three suspects for six additional days. Senior Police Inspector Andreas Andreou told the court that several of the Swede’s claims had been corroborated by evidence.
According to police, the lawyer, who was introduced to the fugitive by the police officer, allegedly provided him with a map showing a meeting point, handcuff keys, a mobile phone, chargers and trainers to facilitate his escape. The suspect was being treated for gastroenteritis at the time.
The detainee claimed that during her visits to the private clinic, the lawyer repeatedly asked him for money. She allegedly told him during one of their conversations that she had “paid a police officer to keep you in the clinic”.
In a peculiar development, investigators confirmed the fugitive’s claim that the lawyer had attempted to arrange a fraudulent marriage, bringing a plain-clothed priest to the clinic.
Police discovered notes about Catholic wedding procedures and photographs showing the pair wearing rings at the lawyer’s residence.
The police officer’s involvement appears more extensive than initially thought. Evidence shows he purchased the mobile phone cards and a pair of €98 trainers used in the escape with his credit card, contrary to the lawyer’s claim to the fugitive that they cost €300.
Telecommunications data revealed that there were conversations on WhatsApp and Telegram between all three suspects. Messages included discussions about the fugitive’s shoe size and requests to retrieve computers and phones held by police as evidence.
One message allegedly showed the fugitive informing the officer about an additional €10,000 payment to the lawyer, who had already received €5,000 and a luxury vehicle worth €75,000.
Both the lawyer and police officer exercised their right to remain silent during questioning.
The case has attracted significant media attention in Sweden, with Swedish journalists attending the court proceedings in Cyprus.
Two additional police members have been suspended in relation to the case – a Special Contract Police Officer who was guarding the suspect during the escape, and a Larnaca police duty officer who allegedly gave irregular instructions for the guard assignment.
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