Swede held up by Ativan gang

A tourist from Sweden was not only robbed of his cash and valuables by members of an Ativan gang, he was mauled as well by the suspects.

Manila police identified the victim as Robert Erik Eriksson, 43, temporarily billeted at the City State Tower Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

Police said Eriksson had just finished playing golf at about 3 p.m. last Friday at the Intramuros Golf Club and was waiting for a taxi when two men aboard a white Toyota car stopped and invited him for a ride back to his hotel. One of the suspects was described by the victim as about 60 years old, "decent-looking," fluent in English and with medium build. The second suspect was described to be about 27 years old, slim and with short hair.

Eriksson said he was later mauled by the suspects after he woke up while being robbed. He then again fell unconscious from the beating.

The victim told police that he woke up near the Carmona Municipal Police Station where the suspects dumped him the following day, and found out that the suspects took his wristwatch worth $4,000, a gold necklace worth $400 and P2,500 in cash. – Mike Frialde