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CRIME

270 imprisoned in black market purge

Tax revenues totalling 2.5 billion kronor ($310 million) have been recovered following an investigation into Sweden's labour black market by the Tax Agency (Skatteverket).

270 imprisoned in black market purge

The agency’s investigation has also led to 272 people being imprisoned for a total of 360 years, the report published on Tuesday, shows.

The government granted extra funds to the agency in 2006 earmarked for the improvement of tax controls.

So far more than 1,200 people have been charged for a range of offences.

Many of the cases of illegal labour emerge from tips and the company is thereafter investigated by the agency. Each investigation has on average netted an additional 2.7 million kronor in unpaid tax revenues.

The report shows that 75 percent of the economic crimes are committed in the Stockholm area.

The agency reveals in its report that much of the crime is connected to organized syndicates and is focused in several key industries such as construction.

The agency learned however that organized black markets in labour are also prevalent in other sectors such as transport, hotel and catering and cleaning.

To assist the investigation the agency put together a centralized analysis group (URAN) to develop a more systematic operation into the black market in labour.

The agency’s work to combat illegal labour will continue in a new project that will run until December 31st 2012.

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CRIME

Three injured in suspected knife attack in central Sweden

At least three people have been injured in a suspected knife attack which took place in broad daylight in the centre of Västerås in central Sweden on Friday afternoon.

Three injured in suspected knife attack in central Sweden

Police were called to the scene at shortly before 1.30pm on Friday after several women who Swedish police described as “elderly” were found injured with stab wounds. 

The man suspected of attacking the three women, who is reportedly in his late 20s, was later shot by police. According to Region Västmanland he is “seriously injured”.

“They have been injured with a sharp object but whether it is a knife or something else, we do not know right now,” Tobias Ahlén-Svalbro, a spokesperson from the local police told Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT. 

The three women have been taken to hospital, with one, in her 70s, described as having serious injuries. The others’ injuries are less severe.

“We are investigating two crime scenes,” Ahlén-Svalbro said. “As far as I understand the situation, two of them were injured in one area and the other somewhere else, but both areas are in central Västerås.”

The police have opened an investigation into aggravated assault, he added.

“We have already received several witness statements and would like to hear from any other witnesses who have seen or heard something.”

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