A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to four years in prison for raping a 100-year-old woman during a home care visit in Stockholm in October. The city was informed the next day but did not report to police; the woman's family did so three weeks later. The ruling has sparked reactions, especially over the lack of deportation.
In October, the 100-year-old woman called an ambulance due to chest pains. Instead, home care worker Shakir Mahmoud Shakir, 38, arrived at her home in Stockholm. According to the woman's testimony, he claimed he was there to apply oil but inserted an object into her vagina and continued despite her screams.
The family reported the incident to police three weeks later, even though Stockholm city was informed the day after the visit. Communications chief Carl Smitterberg at the elderly administration acknowledges shortcomings: 'This is clearly something we need to look into and learn from. We probably need to be quicker to report suspicions to police.' The city has initiated a Lex Sarah investigation linked to the man.
Stockholm District Court sentenced Shakir to four years in prison for the rape. He was acquitted of a similar charge against a 94-year-old due to insufficient evidence. The prosecutor sought deportation, but the court denied it, citing the man's ties to Sweden, including a young child. Judge Mohamed Ali explained: 'We assessed that the reasons against deportation were stronger.'
The woman's legal counsel Anders Unnbäck says she is relieved by the verdict: 'It's a relief for her that a judgment has come.' She is described as credible in court and has declined in health since the assault. The family criticizes home care routines, especially the lack of a police report and background checks.
The government proposes legal changes to expand municipalities' rights to check criminal records for new hires, effective from March 1, 2026. Stockholm city welcomes the proposal and already applies such checks.
