Sweden:US airforce investigators have arrived in Sweden to confirm the identity of a deserter who lived secretly in the Nordic state for almost 30 years, the man's lawyer said yesterday.
David Hemler came forward two weeks ago and revealed his identity to a local newspaper. He said he had deserted from a US airforce base in Germany in 1984, aged 21, and hitchhiked to Sweden where he lived under an assumed name.
The 49-year-old, twice married with three children in Sweden, said he came forward because he wanted to see his parents in the United States and wanted his children to see their grandparents.
Two officials from the US airforce met Mr Hemler’s lawyer Emma Persson along with an official from the US embassy, said Ms Persson. “They want to do a DNA test and take fingerprints to check his identity. He is ready to do that because he wants to show that he is who he says he is.
“They want him to hand himself over and go to court,” she added, adding Mr Hemler had not agreed to that. “They were clear that there would be some sort of punishment.” – (Reuters)