Officer defends violent criminal

After a news site had published an article about a convicted criminal along with his photo, a female officer approached the portal’s journalist and asked for the removal of the photo, saying it has a negative impact on the delinquent. She also said that Ali, the convicted felon, had already changed and regrets his actions.

WORLD SEPTEMBER 23. 2020 15:47

Pia Soderberg, a police officer in Marsta, Sweden, approached Simon Kritoffersson, a journalist from Samhallsnytt, to speak up in defence of a criminal.

A few days ago, the portal wrote about Ali Mohamed, who, along with a friend, began shouting with an assistant at a McDonald s fast food restaurant in October 2017, complaining that his meal took too long to prepare. The two men then became violent and beat up several employees.

Ali boasts an extensive criminial record, having already been accused of involvement in crimes related to threats and physical abuse, as well as drugs.

Nevertheless, officer Pia Soderberg decided to pay a visit to Kristoffersson, the portal s journalist, on Monday, because she read an article about Ali on Samhallsnytt, which also featured the man s photo. The policewoman asked for the photo to be removed from the site, arguing that it had a very negative effect on Ali.

Ms Soderberg explained that Ali had regretted what he did and is very sorry for it, and now he is trying to get back on his feet – with her help. He has a popular name and there are many Alis, the female officer said, arguing that having only his name mentioned in the article would have been no problem. The fact, however, that Ali s name came with a photo makes him feel as if he was singled out, she said.

In response, Samhallsnytt stressed that they will not change the article or remove the photo, and they also seized the opportunity to ask Ms Soderberg some questions. The portal was curious to find out what made her, as a police officer, try to put pressure on journalists and tell them how to portray a convicted criminal.

It turns out that Ali Mohamed was identified by officer Pia Soderberg as the perpetrator of the fast food restaurant incident. In her report filed back then she even underlined that she had known the man for years.

WORLD

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ali mohamed, assault, convicted criminal, crime, help, police officer, sweden