Thursday, October 9, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Swede behind giant fraud – sentenced to 20 years in prison

Published 13 September 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Karl Sebastian Greenwood.
2 minute read

Karl Sebastian Greenwood, a 46-year-old native of Stockholm, is identified as the brain behind one of the biggest scams ever. Through the fictional cryptocurrency OneCoin, he, along with the so-called “Crypto Queen”, Ruja Ignatova, tricked investors from all over the world into investing over SEK 40 billion. Now a court in New York has sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

Sebastian Greenwood, who began using his middle name Karl as a nickname, was arrested in Thailand in 2018 after tricking people around the world into investing in a cryptocurrency that did not exist. His accomplice, Ruja Ignatova, is internationally wanted since 2017 and was charged in absentia, Bloomberg reports.

Between 2014 and fall 2016, despite total investments of 40 billion, OneCoin had revenues of over 30 billion according to the FBI. Profits during this period amounted to over 20 billion SEK.

Greenwood has been in custody in New York for five years on suspicion of money laundering and computer fraud. In December, he pleaded guilty to three of the criminal charges.

Karl takes full responsibility for what he has done and deeply regrets his actions,” his defense lawyers said, according to Swedish news outlet SvD.

Despite his confession and the time he spent in custody, the court chose to sentence him to a total of 20 years in prison. The five years Greenwood spent in custody will be deducted from the total sentence, meaning he has 15 years left to serve.

Around 60,000 Swedes are said to have invested in OneCoin. Greenwood’s defense asked the court to consider his remorse and the suffering of his parents, who, according to the defense lawyers, are “paralyzed by the fear of not seeing their son return home”.

The maximum sentence for each crime he was charged with was 20 years. Given the seriousness of the charges and the scale of the fraud, the court chose to impose a severe sentence, despite the defense’s request for a lighter sentence or extradition to Sweden.

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Meet Nextcloud – the collaboration platform that fully replaces Microsoft 365

Advertising partnership with Teuton Systems

Did you know your company can save significant IT costs today without compromising on functionality or user-friendliness? Teuton Systems, as one of the first providers in the Nordic region, offers installation of Nextcloud - the world's leading alternative to Microsoft 365.

Published yesterday 14:04
5 minute read

Nextcloud is a collaboration platform that brings together file management, document editing, calendar, contacts and communication tools in one place. Just like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, it gives employees the ability to work with documents wherever they are, share files with colleagues and have video meetings – but with one crucial difference: you decide where your data is stored and who has access to it.

More than 400,000 organizations worldwide, from the French Ministry of the Interior to Swedish universities, have chosen Nextcloud to maintain control over their information.

Features in Nextcloud

File management that works everywhere: Upload documents, images and files from your computer and access them from your phone, tablet or any other device. When someone updates a document, everyone else sees the change immediately. No emails with “latest version” as an attachment – everyone works with the same file.

Work together in real time: Through integrated office tools, multiple people can edit the same document, spreadsheet or presentation simultaneously directly in the web browser. You see what your colleagues are writing as they write it.

Communicate and organize: Nextcloud Talk offers video meetings, chat and screen sharing without any external services like Zoom or Teams. Shared calendar and contacts make it easy to coordinate meetings and ensure everyone on the team has the same information.

Integration: The system can be connected to existing tools like Active Directory, SharePoint and other business systems. Over 200 add-ons are available to customize the platform according to specific needs.

Open and edit documents directly in the web browser through cutting-edge integration of word processors and other document apps.

Why choose Nextcloud over Google or Microsoft?

1. You decide where your data is stored – and it matters

When you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, all your files, emails and documents end up on servers in the USA. This means that US authorities can demand access to your data through laws like the US Cloud Act – often without you knowing about it. For a Swedish company, this could mean that sensitive information about customers, employees or trade secrets is suddenly accessible to foreign authorities.

With Nextcloud, you decide where your data is stored. You can either have the system on your own server in your office, or choose a local hosting provider. Either way, everything stays within your country’s borders, which automatically means GDPR compliance without complicated data processing agreements. This is why Swedish government agencies like Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Agency) and Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) have chosen Nextcloud – they must be able to guarantee that citizens’ information is protected.

2. Skip monthly costs – save thousands of euros

Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 cost money every month for every person in the company. For a company with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and 50 employees, it amounts to approximately €13,500 per year – that’s €67,500 over a five-year period. And prices tend to increase over time.

Nextcloud is open source and completely free to use. The only thing you pay for is the server it runs on and any support services. A server for 50 people costs around €2,000 to purchase, plus around €500 per year for electricity and maintenance. Over five years: €4,500 instead of €67,500 – a saving of over €63,000.

Even if you choose to let an external provider handle the actual server operation, the cost becomes a fraction of what Google or Microsoft charges. And you get unlimited storage based on your hardware – no limit on how much you can store.

Access all company files and documents in your own “cloud” regardless of where you are without dependence on Microsoft, Google and other tech giants.

3. Complete security control

When your files are with Google or Microsoft, it’s their security routines that apply. You can’t control what happens behind the scenes. With Nextcloud, you have full insight and control.

You can, among other things:

  • Require two-factor authentication for all users
  • See exactly who opened which files and when
  • Set rules for what types of files can be uploaded or downloaded
  • Activate encryption that makes it so not even the system administrator can read the content
  • Decide that certain files are automatically deleted after a certain time

 

Since Nextcloud is open source, anyone can review the code for security flaws. This means that problems are discovered and fixed quickly by thousands of developers worldwide. Compare that to closed systems where security problems can lie hidden for years.

Nextcloud is also the first cloud platform to receive Blauer Engel certification (Germany’s official environmental label), which confirms both security and sustainability.

4. Customize the system according to your needs

With Google or Microsoft, you get the apps and features they offer – no more, no less. With Nextcloud, you can add exactly the features your company needs through over 200 available add-ons.

Do you need tools for visual project management? Forms to collect information from customers? Integration with your existing accounting software or customer system? Custom appearance that matches the company’s graphic profile? All of this can be implemented.

If the company grows, Nextcloud scales with it – from five to five hundred users without you needing to change systems or sign new expensive contracts.

5. No lock-in – you decide

Once you’ve put all your data with Google or Microsoft, it’s troublesome to move. It’s designed that way – the more locked in you are, the harder it is to switch. But what happens if they raise prices? Or if their service is down for a whole day? Or if a conflict arises with American interests that choose to limit access to services in Europe?

With Nextcloud, you own your data and can move it when you want, where you want. All data is saved in open standard formats that work everywhere. Want to change hosting provider? Move from the cloud to your own server? Or vice versa? No problem. You’re never locked in.

Keep all company internal meetings and calls with business partners privacy-secure on your own server without outside surveillance with access to meeting rooms, meeting recording, transcription and modern AI functions.

Getting started with Nextcloud

You don’t need to be a technical expert to use Nextcloud. The interface is intuitive and works exactly as you expect – click to open files, drag and drop to upload, share with a link.

For installation and configuration, there are companies that specialize in this. Teuton Systems is a Swedish technology company based in Dalarna, Sweden that works with privacy-promoting technology and open source solutions. They help companies install, configure and maintain Nextcloud. With support in Swedish and English, you get help through the entire process – from planning to ongoing operation.

Technical overview:

  • Files and storage: Unlimited storage based on your hardware, automatic file versions, password-protected file sharing
  • Collaboration: Real-time document editing, video conferences, chat, calendar, contacts
  • Security: AES-256 encryption, two-factor authentication, detailed logging, GDPR compliance
  • Compatibility: Works in web browsers, available as app for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android
  • Cost: License-free open source, possibility to sign enterprise support on annual basis

 

Contact: Call Teuton Systems at +46 10 10 11 222 or visit teuton-systems.com to get help getting started and assess whether Nextcloud fits your business.

 

Swedish government proposal: Scraps nuclear power ban along coast and archipelago

Published 7 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Even the Stockholm archipelago could become a potential location for nuclear power facilities if the Swedish government's proposal goes through.
2 minute read

The Environmental Code’s ban on nuclear facilities in large parts of Sweden’s coastal and archipelago areas should be removed, the Swedish government proposes. A consultation proposal has been sent out and must be answered by December 15 at the latest.

During a nuclear power conference at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (Liberal Party) presented plans to make the coast accessible for nuclear power expansion.

— We are now making the entire coast, including our islands, available for nuclear installations. New reactors are necessary for us to be able to live fossil-free lives, she says.

The changes affect several areas along the Swedish coast. Among others, Bohuslän (western Sweden), Öland, Gotland (Baltic Sea islands), and the Stockholm archipelago will become available for nuclear facilities. Coastal areas in Småland and Östergötland (from Simpevarp to Arkösund) as well as in Ångermanland (from Storfjärden to Skagsudde) in northern Sweden are also included in the proposal.

— We need the possibility to evaluate all suitable locations for new nuclear power, we cannot exclude them in advance, says the environment minister in a comment to TT.

“Nuclear power has been badly treated”

The climate minister justifies the changes by saying nuclear power is needed to create a “sustainable future”.

— We propose that nuclear facilities should be exempted from these restrictions, they have a crucial role for a sustainable and reliable future, she continues.

Despite the ban being removed, protection for natural and cultural values should be maintained according to the proposal.

“Today’s ban excludes locations that could be suitable without allowing an assessment in individual cases. The legal change creates conditions for more actors who want to build and invest in nuclear facilities along the coast”, it reads among other things.

The Swedish government expects the changes to take effect on July 1, 2026.

— Nuclear power has been badly treated and neglected for decades. But that has now changed. A new licensing process is being introduced, Pourmokhtari states.

Three criminal networks responsible for half of gang violence in Sweden

organized crime

Published 7 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Rawa Majid, Mikael Tenezos and Ismail Abdo lead the groups that have committed the most violent crimes during the year.
3 minute read

Foxtrot, Dalen and Rumba – three criminal networks and their leaders bear responsibility for nearly half of all gang violence that has led to personal injuries or deaths in Sweden during 2025.

Despite extensive police operations following the major wave of violence in 2023, the same gang leaders continue to control their organizations and instigate violent acts from abroad, according to an internal situation report obtained by Bonnier newspaper Expressen.

The police report identifies three main actors: Foxtrot led by Rawa “Kurdish Fox” Majid, the Dalen network headed by Mikael “The Greek” Tenezos, and the Rumba network under Ismail “Strawberry” Abdo.

“There are over 50 mapped networks in Sweden that are assessed to have very high violence potential. In light of this, it is remarkable that only three networks are involved in nearly half of the violence that leads to personal injuries and/or deaths”, the police write.

Conflicts between the three networks have somewhat subsided since the 2023 wave of violence, which is reflected in statistics showing a sharp decrease in gun violence, but police simultaneously warn that this does not mean the networks have been weakened. Both Foxtrot and Dalen have instead focused on drug trafficking and carry out violent acts for payment.

Released on bail – now arrested again

The Rumba network is reported to have been weakened since leader Ismail Abdo was arrested by Turkish police in early July 2025. The arrest is considered a major success for Swedish police, as the network is suspected of extensive weapons smuggling and a long series of violent acts.

Abdo had previously been arrested in Turkey in May 2024, when he was armed with a loaded pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest. But he was released after paying the equivalent of approximately €550 in bail.

Smuggling hand grenades from the Balkans

Foxtrot, which is assessed to be the most violence-driven network, has according to police “an established logistics chain for smuggling weapons and hand grenades from the Balkans”. The network has carried out several attacks per month during 2025, primarily to strengthen its position in the drug market.

Among the notable incidents is a series in western Sweden where a shooting and four arson attacks were carried out after the network’s accomplices stole over 30 kilos of cocaine. In another case, three bombing attacks were carried out against a person’s relatives as pressure for that person to start dealing Foxtrot’s narcotics.

Rawa Majid, who left Turkey in autumn 2023, remains at large. Reports have claimed that he was detained in Iran and he has also been accused of orchestrating attacks against Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime.

In January, Majid’s uncle was murdered in Husby, a Stockholm suburb. In an interrogation, Majid’s father said his son had promised not to seek revenge.

— He promised me not to do anything, the father said. When police asked where the son got information about who ordered the murder, the answer was: “He knows everything”.

Police assess that “a critical dependency for the Foxtrot network’s use of violence is likely the strategic persons who are located abroad”.

New wave of violence expected

Mikael Tenezos, the former hockey talent who leads the Dalen network, is in turn wanted in absentia but controls his network from Mexico. Despite repeated appeals from Swedish authorities, most recently in February 2025, he has not yet been arrested.

The Dalen network dominates drug trafficking in northern Sweden, with Gävle as the new central distribution point. The network also carries out violent acts for payment, primarily threats, violence and debt collection for financial criminals. The weapons used have largely come from the Rumba network’s smuggling from Turkey.

Police warn of the risk that a new major conflict could break out if Foxtrot and Dalen clash in the drug market. Both networks are assessed to have the ability to quickly scale up and carry out multiple violent acts in a short time.

Gävle restaurant shooting: Arrested 13-year-old known to police

Deteriorating safety

Published 6 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The image is an archive photo.
3 minute read

The arrested 13-year-old suspected of Friday’s restaurant shooting in Gävle, Sweden, was previously known to both police and social services. The incident has sparked strong concern among local residents and led to increased police presence in the area.

Police and social services have confirmed that the suspected 13-year-old is not unknown to authorities and acknowledge having had previous contact with the boy. He is now suspected of six counts of attempted murder and aggravated weapons offenses.

Information from social authorities shows that the boy has connections to a criminal group in Gävle, which has once again highlighted the vulnerability of children and young people and their involvement in gang crime.

Several local residents have expressed their fear and frustration about violence directed at the public in media interviews, calling for both immediate action and long-term solutions.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer are reportedly scheduled to visit Gävle on Monday. During the visit, they are expected to meet with police, municipal representatives, and visit the crime scene on Södra Kungsgatan where six people were injured.

The visit is intended to demonstrate the government’s commitment and willingness to show support, while also reviewing the security situation in Gävle.

Translation: “As I said. We have a f*cking uphill battle to walk, when this is what someone writes to their caseworker at social services after just having shot six people, with unclear outcome regarding survival.

‘Check the news hehe’“.

Translation: “The suspected 14-year-old behind the mass shooting in Gävle Sweden is linked to a local gang in the Sätra district, G15. The gang has previously been involved in several shootings”.

Police: Clear picture of the sequence of events

Following Friday’s shooting, police have increased their presence in the area to create safety and stability.

This type of incident creates insecurity, which is why we will continue to be visible and available to the public in places where many people move around, says a representative from the investigation section in Gävleborg County.

The investigation is ongoing at full capacity, and police report that they have a clear picture of the sequence of events.

Meanwhile, responsibility for the boy now also lies with social services, which must decide what measures should be taken. It remains unclear whether the arrested boy will continue to be held in custody.

Friday’s serious violent crime in Gävle has once again focused attention on the problem of young people involved in serious crime and gang criminality. Municipal representatives in Gävle have promised to intensify efforts to support vulnerable youth and prevent them from falling into criminal paths.

Six people were injured in the shooting. All were taken to hospital by ambulance, and three of them are still receiving hospital care. The injuries are mainly to the lower body, but police report that none of the injured have life-threatening injuries. The injured are young adults, and one or more are under 18 years old.

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