The Minister of Employment, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen (Social Democrats), is now announcing potential tightening of rules for criminals on early retirement pension in Denmark. This comes in the wake of the TV 2 documentary ‘The Black Swan’, where hidden recordings reveal an underworld of gang members and bikers collaborating with lawyers and businessmen on money laundering. The documentary also shows that two prominent Bandidos members who are on early retirement pension are involved in this criminal activity. “I am deeply outraged that this is happening in our country,” says Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen. “It is unreasonable that Danes should pay for benefits to individuals who are simultaneously making money from crime that undermines our society.”
According to the documentary, Bandidos member Fasar Abra Raja is on early retirement pension, while he is involved in money laundering and illegal depositing of contaminated construction waste. Raja denies all allegations through his lawyer. Another member, Jimmy Skjoldborg, has not had a real job since he was 22 years old according to the documentary. He is also on early retirement pension while being involved in money laundering. Skjoldborg has not wanted to comment to TV 2.
“Early retirement pension is for those who cannot support themselves at all – not even with a part-time job,” says Halsboe-Jørgensen. “Being involved in organized crime is not compatible with being on early retirement pension.” The Minister now proposes that serious crime could be a factor leading to the complete removal of early retirement pension.
At present, a convict can have their benefits reduced to the lowest level for certain types of crimes, such as gang-related crimes, for up to three years. “There is a need to investigate whether repeated serious crimes can lead to the removal of early retirement pension from criminals,” says Halsboe-Jørgensen.
She emphasizes that most Danes work and contribute to society, making it especially painful to see some abusing the system. “Denmark is fundamentally a good country where people work hard and contribute to society. It is painful to see this criminal activity and at the same time see these individuals receiving public money. I am outraged, and I understand if others are too. We must learn from this and crack down on it,” says the Minister, who has watched three of the documentary’s five episodes.
The revelations in ‘The Black Swan’ were made possible because TV 2 used an undercover informant to capture the criminals in hiding and reveal their methods. “This should not happen in our country, and when it does, we must tighten regulations and ensure that authorities have the necessary resources,” concludes Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen.