Hayut released from Georgian prison after plea deal and dropped German charges

17 November 2025 , 08:17

700     0

Hayut released from Georgian prison after plea deal and dropped German charges

A woman who claims she was swindled by the notorious "Tinder Swindler" Shimon Hayut says his sudden release from a Georgian prison is "a shock" and "disappointing".

Swedish businesswoman Pernilla Sjoholm, who claims she was swindled out of £39,000, reacted after learning that Hayut, 35, had been freed on a one-year suspended sentence.

Pernilla Sjoholm expressed shock and disappointment at Shimon Hayut’s release. Credit: Pernilla Sjoholm Instagram

The infamous fraudster received a one-year suspended sentence. Credit: Simon Leviev/Facebook

Hayut – accused of scamming women across Europe out of millions while posing as Simon Leviev, a supposed heir to a wealthy diamond family – had faced up to ten years behind bars.

He was arrested in Georgia in September over an alleged £38,000 fraud in Germany and was held for two months in the country’s notorious Kutaisi Penitentiary pending extradition.

But German authorities reportedly canceled their arrest warrant, clearing the way for a plea deal his Georgian lawyer Mariam Kublashvila called "fair and appropriate".

Informed of his release, Ms. Sjoholm said she had no idea he was about to walk free.

James Smith

Editor-in-Chief