Authorities in Stockholm briefly detained former Iraqi Defense Minister Najah Al-Shammari upon his arrival in Sweden on suspicion of involvement in fraudulent activities related to social assistance, according to the appointed prosecutor.
Jan Nilsson, the prosecutor, informed Agence France-Presse that Al-Shammari was detained on Monday at Arlanda Airport in the Swedish capital.
However, he was not immediately remanded in custody after the public prosecutor’s office reached an agreement with the former minister’s lawyer for him to attend interrogation later.
In his statement to AFP, the prosecutor mentioned that Al-Shammari is “suspected of engaging in fraud and aggravated fraud related to social assistance.”
Swedish media revealed in 2019 that an investigation was launched against the former minister for seeking housing assistance and family benefits in Sweden while living and working in Iraq.
Expressen newspaper confirmed that Najah Al-Shammari arrived in Sweden in 2009 and obtained permanent residency in 2011, followed by Swedish citizenship in 2015.
