Document has previously reported on a wave of thefts at Danderyd Hospital in Danderyd, near Stockholm – one of Sweden’s wealthiest municipalities. In October 2025, 76-year-old Tommy sought medical help there and had his jewellery stolen.
Tommy Eriksson arrived at the A&E department by ambulance. After a while, a nurse told him he needed to go to the X-ray department and asked him to place his jewellery in the coin pocket of his wallet. He was later given the wallet back – but the rings were missing. They were heirlooms from his parents and held great sentimental value, he told Aftonbladet.
“I inherited one of the rings from my father, and I promised my grandson that he would inherit it from me.” Tommy is now both sad and angry. “I’ve read and seen before that they’ve even taken jewellery from deceased people. They’re absolute pigs for behaving like this.”
He is far from alone. In 2024, around 50 patients and relatives were affected.
A former nursing assistant has now been charged with aggravated theft and aggravated handling of stolen goods after stealing jewellery and cash from patients at Danderyd Hospital over several years, then selling or pawning the items to fund her gambling addiction. This is reported by Mats Dagerlind at Samnytt.
Many of the victims were elderly, seriously ill, or unconscious – in several cases nearing the end of their lives.
According to the indictment, Samira Jelili (born 1972) abused her position to gain access to patients’ belongings during emergency care, X-ray examinations, and ward treatment. Jewellery placed in storage bags for safekeeping later turned out to be missing – or replaced with fake items.
One victim, John Erik, says he was brought unconscious to the hospital after a fall. “I suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. I was taken by ambulance to Danderyd Hospital.”
When he woke up, a bag of belongings was on his bedside table – but something was wrong. The bag contained hearing aids and a thin gold-coloured chain. His real gold chain, with a personal pendant, was gone. Cash was also missing.
Several complainants and relatives describe how they tried to raise the issue with staff – without success. John Erik says he immediately pointed out that he had been robbed.
“I tried to tell them I’d been robbed and that the things in the bag weren’t mine. But no one listened.”
His daughter Lena, interviewed as a witness, describes how the family tried to find out what had happened.
“We reported it to the hospital and the insurance company, but got nothing from them.”
She says the jewellery held great sentimental value.
Samnytt reports that Samira Jelili was arrested in December and has been remanded in custody since 12 December. She denies some of the allegations but has admitted to others.
The charges also include aggravated handling of stolen goods and aggravated commercial handling of stolen goods. According to the prosecution, between 2020 and 2025 Samira Jelili received, sold, or pawned suspected stolen goods on at least 128 occasions at various gold dealers and pawnbrokers. The total value is said to exceed 1 million Swedish kronor.
At Kaplan’s Auctions, Samira was clearly identified on CCTV when handing in stolen goods. Transactions were halted as soon as suspicions arose.
“The stolen goods consisted of jewellery and other valuables that the accused had accessed through her work and then handed in for sale,” says prosecutor Emma Kyhlstedt.
In addition to the hospital thefts, Jelili is charged with a theft on Lidingö, where she allegedly took a large quantity of silver items from a private home.
In interviews, Samira herself describes how her finances and gambling addiction escalated over several years. She links the crimes to her addiction and speaks of “manic behaviour”.
“Everything depended on gambling money. It took over my brain.”
She describes using jewellery as a kind of financial lifeline.
“When I’m skint, I know I’ve got these pieces of jewellery I can pawn.”
At the same time, she expresses regret – but in many cases denies intent and feels sorry for herself, viewing herself as a victim.
“I’m really sorry about this. It’s ruining my life too.”
In other parts of the interviews, her tone is more dismissive. “We deny it – it’s easier that way,” her defence lawyer stated after the client remained silent during questioning.
Documents show that the woman has previously been convicted of similar offences. However, the current indictment lacks details on where and when those crimes occurred – and whether they were linked to previous employment.
The question therefore remains of how she was able to work in healthcare for so long despite prior convictions.
The prosecution has been filed. According to Samnytt, the accused remains in custody awaiting trial. The investigation into further suspected thefts at the hospital is ongoing.