Simon Leviev, the subject of the Netflix documentary "The Tinder Swindler," has stated that the film has been the "best thing that ever happened to me" and that he is "laughing all the way to the bank" following its release.
Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, is reported to have defrauded women of approximately $10 million over two years. He expressed no remorse during an interview with The Times, stating, "I'm happy to see them doing well. They're cashing out. I'm cashing out as well."
Previously imprisoned in Finland, Greece, and Israel, Leviev described his jail conditions in Tbilisi as inhumane, spending 23 hours a day in a cell with six other men and losing 20kg in two months. He is now a free man as a German investigation into his alleged offenses has been dropped due to insufficient evidence. Legal action brought by the Leviev diamond family has also concluded, with his lawyer stating the case was withdrawn as the alleged offenses occurred outside of Israel, negating Israeli court jurisdiction.
An investigation remains open in Israel regarding allegations of coercive control made by his former girlfriend, Kate Konlin, who appeared at the end of "The Tinder Swindler."
Following his release from prison in Georgia, where he had been held awaiting extradition for an alleged £38,000 fraud in Germany, Leviev received a one-year suspended sentence as part of a plea agreement. German authorities canceled their arrest warrant, leading to his release.
One of Leviev's alleged victims, Swedish businesswoman Pernilla Sjoholm, expressed disappointment at his release. "I'm disappointed that he's not going to spend more years in prison," she said, though she acknowledged the plea deal meant he admitted to his crimes. Sjoholm noted that cases against him, including a lawsuit from the Leviev family for falsely claiming to be a member, are still ongoing in Israel. She also mentioned potential open cases in the UK and expressed hope for further legal action.
Sjoholm stated that Leviev's alleged criminal activities extend beyond romance fraud to alleged crimes against companies and men, and that this has been his pattern of behavior since his teenage years. She believes only legal intervention can change him.