The reason is that they have made a decision that the Skåne municipality will not accept quota refugees, writes the Prosecution Authority in a press release. The prosecutor motivates the prosecution by stating that municipalities are required by law to accept newly arrived individuals for settlement in the municipality after referral.
"The crime is to be considered gross as the defendants have seriously abused their position as municipal politicians. It has also had consequences for both individual individuals and the general public," says Chamber Prosecutor Magdalena Petersson in the press release.
Four quota refugees
In the indictment, it appears that the Migration Agency decided in March 2022 that Staffanstorp Municipality would be responsible for accepting four quota refugees.
On the same day, Christian Sonesson, as chairman of the municipal board, is said to have proposed that the municipal board decide to introduce an immediate stop for the reception of quota refugees, as well as to inform the Migration Agency of the stance. Six days later, the proposal was passed by the municipality.
The five politicians who are being prosecuted are those who participated in the vote in the municipal board without reserving themselves. The sixth is Christian Sonesson. All of them deny the crime.
The decision not to accept quota refugees was made with reference to the fact that refugees from war-torn Ukraine would be prioritized. Subsequently, the municipality refused to accept four quota refugees who had just arrived. They were instead referred to another municipality.
Later that year, the municipality repealed the decision on quota refugees.
"Global trend"
Sonesson himself believes that the issue should instead be tried in an administrative court. He writes in a comment on Facebook that this is how politically made decisions are usually tried in Sweden.
"It seems unfortunately to be a global trend to try to convict elected officials in general courts," he writes further.
He states that he will continue his duties as municipal councilor and chairman of the municipal board in parallel with the legal process.
