According to the lawyer, Håkan Nesser had been promised that he would be allowed to leave prison last Friday and instead serve his sentence at home on Gotland with ankle shackles. Håkan Nesser told the Swedish Prison and Probation Service that he would stay at home and write, which Dagens Nyheter was the first to report.
His son Johannes Nesser told TT that the Gotland probation service had visited the home and approved it. They had also scheduled a meeting with the author at his home on April 20.
But the release with ankle shackles never happened. In a phone call with the probation service, Håkan Nesser was told that the occupation he was supposed to have at home was "inappropriate", according to his son.
The idea behind the Prison and Probation Service's ability to refuse certain types of employment is the risk that the employment will lead to a relapse into crime, or to something else inappropriate, says Conny Cedermark.
It can hardly be considered inappropriate to pursue a career as a writer.
Unlawful handling
According to the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, the case is still under investigation and there are therefore no public documents to release. Cedermark has not been given any written decision or justification.
This is regrettable and the handling is legally uncertain.
Can you confirm that Håkan Nesser was notified that the release with the ankle shackle was approved?
I have not participated in that communication myself, but I have no reason to question it.
According to his son, Håkan Nesser will have served two-thirds of his prison sentence by the end of July and can then be released without shackles if he does not misbehave in prison.
At the prison, Nesser was only able to write by hand, without access to a computer, email or the internet.
Incorrect information
Håkan Nesser was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for three counts of aggravated tax evasion. He admitted providing incorrect information to the Swedish Tax Agency but said that it was done without intent.
Isn't it reasonable that he should be in prison for the time being?
No. The opportunity for parole is available to everyone, provided they meet the probation criteria, and he meets those requirements with flying colors, says Conny Cedermark.
The Swedish Prison and Probation Service writes to DN Kultur that it does not comment on individual cases.
