The Svea Court of Appeal has upheld the six-year prison sentence for Soheil Almasy, a former caregiver in Stockholm, convicted of multiple rapes and assaults. Almasy, who lured victims with job offers, was previously convicted of crimes against minors. The case has sparked political outrage over societal failures to protect women.
Serial Rapist Soheil Almasy Sentenced to Six Years in Prison
Serial Rapist Soheil Almasy Sentenced to Six Years in Prison
The Svea Court of Appeal confirmed on Tuesday the sentence against serial rapist Soheil Almasy, 31. He will now serve six years in prison for, among other things, four rapes.
Iran-born Soheil Almasy, who previously worked as a caregiver at Sankt Göran's Hospital in Stockholm, offered victims jobs as hosts for an international livestreaming platform – but during job interviews, he subjected them to sexual assaults.
In June this year, he was sentenced by the Solna District Court to six years in prison for rapes on four occasions, assault on two occasions, unlawful coercion, and molestation. He was simultaneously acquitted of one rape.
However, Soheil Almasy appealed to the Svea Court of Appeal, claiming his innocence, and the verdict was delivered on Tuesday.
"The District Court has thoroughly accounted for the investigation presented and how the District Court has evaluated it. The Court of Appeal essentially agrees with the considerations made by the District Court in its evidence assessment. The investigation added in the Court of Appeal does not affect the evidence situation. In summary, the Court of Appeal shares the District Court's assessments of what is established in the case," the court writes.
Soheil Almasy is to remain in custody due to the risk of continuing his criminal activities until the prison sentence is enforced.
He is also ordered to pay over one million kronor to the victims.
Convicted of Sexual Crimes Against Underage Girls
Expressen has previously reported extensively on Soheil Almasy's criminal background.
As early as 2013, when he was 19 years old, he committed his first crimes. At that time, the victims were underage girls. A 14-year-old was told she would be subjected to a gang rape, and a 12-year-old girl was encouraged to prostitute herself.
The latest verdict against Soheil Almasy was delivered in 2021. He was then sentenced to three months in prison for attempting to exploit a child for sexual posing and contacting a child for sexual purposes.
Several politicians have previously commented on Soheil Almasy.
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"It is clear that society has failed to protect Swedish girls and women from this monster," said Richard Jomshof (SD), former chairman of the parliamentary justice committee.
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"This kind of person has no place in Sweden."
Social Democrats' legal policy spokesperson Teresa Carvalho said:
- "Such a person should not be free on our streets."