In a surprising turn of events, Swedish prosecutors have decided to reopen the investigation into an incident where a party of 35 individuals allegedly ate and drank their way through an £6,000 meal on Christmas Day at Atmosfär, a well-known restaurant in the southern city of Malmö. The initial investigation conducted by the Malmö police was closed on Monday, but prosecutors reversed this decision on Wednesday, citing the significant public and media interest in the case.
According to a copy of the bill obtained by Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan, the group ordered around £1,900 worth of food and £4,400 worth of drinks during their evening at the restaurant. After consuming their lavish meal, the party reportedly left in a number of taxis without paying, prompting the restaurant to send an invoice to the person who made the reservation. However, the invoice remains unpaid and it is now up to the restaurant to pursue the matter through a debt collection company.
The case first came to light when police were alerted to the suspected fraud at 23:00 local time on Christmas Day. Officers managed to locate and stop several vehicles in different parts of the city, leading to the apprehension of a taxi carrying four individuals, including a 45-year-old man, a 35-year-old woman, and two children. The police’s initial decision to drop the investigation has been met with criticism, which may have influenced the prosecutors’ subsequent reopening of the case.
Atmosfär, the restaurant at the center of this controversy, is renowned for its relaxed yet formal setting, as well as its extensive wine list and traditional dishes from Scania, Sweden’s southernmost region. The incident has attracted considerable attention from both the public and the media, warranting renewed efforts to identify and hold the responsible individuals accountable.
It is important to note that dine and dash incidents are not unique to Sweden. Just recently, Italy decided to cover the bill for tourists who attempted to dine and dash in Albania, highlighting the international interest in addressing such behavior. Additionally, the United States has seen its fair share of dine and dash incidents, with one individual even receiving a sentence for repeatedly conducting dine-and-dash dates, and a grill bar being accused of racial profiling in relation to their dine and dash policy.
The reopening of the investigation in Sweden serves as a reminder that dine and dash incidents can have significant consequences, both for the establishments involved and for the individuals responsible. This case also raises questions about the effectiveness of the initial police investigation and the importance of public and media pressure in holding wrongdoers accountable. As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how this case will unfold and what impact it will have on the country’s dining and hospitality industry.
