Justice Served: Sentencing in the Gruesome Murders of Mohamed Suleiman and Layth al-Azzawi
In the summer of 2023, 14-year-olds Mohamed Suleiman and Layth al-Azzawi were brutally murdered and their bodies dumped in separate forest areas in Stockholm, specifically in Nynäshamn and Upplands-Bro. The investigation revealed they were kidnapped and subjected to severe violence, described as torture.
The police investigation indicated that the boys fell into the clutches of the Foxtrot network. Both were accused of losing pistols belonging to Foxtrot.
Today, several individuals have been sentenced by the Södertörn District Court for their involvement in the murders.
"The murder of the boy in Nynäshamn municipality is monstrous, and the punishment for this crime can only be life imprisonment," said Göran Nilsson, who chaired the case.
Three Sentenced to Life
Three men received life sentences:
The 33-year-old Robin Hedman Johansson, described as a "project leader" within the Foxtrot network, was identified as the mastermind who ordered the two torture murders. He was arrested in Dubai and extradited last year.
The 31-year-old George Hanna was convicted of the murder of Mohamed Suleiman but acquitted of the murder of Layth al-Azzawi. The court found it impossible to prove where, when, or how the boy died.
Earlier this year, George Hanna was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison for a particularly serious drug offense, along with another defendant, Foxtrot member Evangelos Strati, 27.
A third man, 23-year-old Can Tuomi, a Finnish citizen, was also sentenced to life for his involvement in the murder of Mohamed Suleiman. The investigation revealed he imprisoned the boy and forced him into the forest area.
According to the investigation, Evangelos Strati, along with Robin Hedman Johansson, ordered the murder of Mohamed Suleiman. However, on Tuesday, Strati was acquitted of all charges.
The 14-year-old boys Mohamed Suleiman and Layth al-Azzawi disappeared from their care homes at the end of July 2023 and were reported missing shortly thereafter.
The police investigation revealed that Mohamed Suleiman was stabbed 28 times and died from internal and external bleeding. Circulating images showed the boy sitting on a floor with his hands tied and mouth taped.
Another image depicted the second 14-year-old, Layth al-Azzawi, lying in a mail cart, bound with a taped mouth. A third image showed the boy's body dumped in a forest area. According to the indictment, he was likely strangled.
Robin Hedman Johansson, identified as Foxtrot leader Rawa Majid's "project leader" in the wave of violence, ordered the boys to be beaten and taped around their hands and mouths before being taken to the forest areas where they were later found murdered.
The investigation revealed that Robin Hedman Johansson sent orders in a group chat, including instructions on what to do with Layth:
"Bring him out, brother, kidnap him."
"He must die."
The list of charges in the extensive investigation, where 18 people were indicted, is extensive.
The indictment includes the murder and kidnapping of the 14-year-olds, as well as preparation for murder targeting other victims that occurred days before the murders. The indictment also included a suspected sex purchase by George Hanna, for which he was acquitted on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, a total of eleven people were convicted for their involvement in the attacks on Mohamed Suleiman and Layth al-Azzawi.