Stockholm Hell's Angels investigated for fraud

STOCKHOLM - The Stockholm chapter of the Hell's Angels biker gang is being investigated for fraud after police found 70 per cent of members were certified as depressed by the same doctor and getting state sickness benefits.

"It seems to be depressing being a member of this club," Christer Nilsson, deputy head of Stockholm police's criminal investigation department, told newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

Gangs like the Hell's Angels and their rivals the Bandidos have a history of violent crime in Scandinavia including shootouts and bomb attacks, but have branched out into benefit and tax frauds, police say.

Sweden has estimated as much as a fifth of the workforce is on long-term sick leave or early retirement due to sickness, often put down to "burn-out". The Government has cracked down on fraud to get more people back to work.

- REUTERS