Margot Wallström not prosecuted for bribery – Swedish Dagbladet

Foreign Minister Margot Wallström. Photo: Lars Pehrson

It committed no corruption when Foreign Minister Margot Wallström got an apartment of Municipal. Prosecutor drops preliminary investigation.

– In conclusion, I have not been able to find that there is a so-called service context, that is a benefit in the form of a lease that has been made in view of the Government’s behalf, says Alf Johansson, chief prosecutor of the national Anti-corruption unit, said.

on 15 January Wallström told that she had a rented apartment in Stockholm by the Municipal Workers’ Union during his time as Foreign Minister. Then began the preliminary investigation. It is also apparent that Mrs Wallström has received a benefit, consider Johansson, but it can not be proved that she has the right as a minister.

– We have stayed around 25 interrogation and gone through the documentation, he said.
Wallström has not been questioned. That’s because it was not necessary, according to the prosecutor.

– There are so quite often in investigations to hold interviews with a number of people, and the man from the beginning perhaps meant to keep questioning is not necessary depending on the information you get out.

in a written comment to TT said Margot Wallström: “it is good that this has been investigated. I am now looking forward to focusing fully on my work” .

Wallström’s defense lawyer Tomas Nilsson argues that the prosecutor’s statement was expected.

– for my part, I considered that crime did not exist, he said.
the Municipal former treasurer Anders Bergstrom was previously suspected of bribery, but the suspicion is now written. No longer is suspected of any crime in this context, according to Alf Johansson. He would not go into whether any more have been suspect in the investigation.

MWU president, Annelie Nordström, who leaves at the trade union congress next week, leaving a short written comment to the news from the prosecutor.

“it is good that the police have carefully gone through what happened and concluded that there was anything criminal. for me it has always been obvious, but now even the prosecutor came to the conclusion. it is obviously a relief. “

Helena Sundén, Secretary General of the Institute for bribes, held last winter to the apartment to Ms Wallström could move about a bribe.

– it is very positive the prosecutor turned every stone in the deal. My view is still that it is extremely important that people with this type of trust positions acting in a way which is not open to their objectivity is questionable, says Sundén now.

Sunde’n agree that the apartment has been a benefit, but no bribe.

– the benefit must in no way be seen as unfair for it to be seen as a bribe. But again, cabinet ministers and other members of the trust positions must set a good example for it’s a matter of faith in our democratic system.

For SVT says the prosecutor that it has been crucial the ministerial post Wallström, therefore, if it had been a bribe if she had been, for example, Labour Minister with responsibility lying Municipal closer.

– Government makes collective decisions, says Alf Johansson.