Sold companies to criminals in large scam - sentenced

The business broker systematically bought and resold companies with a good history, creditworthiness, and F-tax to criminals for use in criminal schemes, according to the indictment. Now, three people are being sentenced to prison for serious economic crimes.

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Sold companies to criminals in large scam - sentenced
Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT

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The corporate broker bought and systematically resold companies with good history, creditworthiness, and F-tax to criminals for use in criminal schemes, according to the indictment.

Now, three people are sentenced to prison for serious economic crimes.

The company's CEO, a man in his 35s, is sentenced to one year and seven months in prison, and two employees are sentenced to one year and two and three months in prison, respectively, for multiple cases of aggravated money laundering, according to the Stockholm District Court.

A fourth employee is sentenced to a conditional sentence and day fines for aiding and abetting money laundering, and a fifth person is fully acquitted.

The prosecutor charged with money laundering in connection with approximately 1,100 company sales worth around 50 million kronor, but according to the district court, it can only be proven in eleven of these cases.

Insufficient evidence

"This is due, among other things, to the fact that the court has not been able to find sufficient evidence to prove a money laundering purpose with the company purchases. The district court cannot find that the errors in the accounting were made intentionally. All five have denied the crime," says Judge Ulf Walther in a press release.

The district court notes that some companies were sold to criminals who used them to commit various types of fraud, sometimes to "very large values."

After the companies were used as criminal tools, they were, according to the prosecution, declared bankrupt with large debts.

Longer prison sentences

Prosecutor Nathalie Müntzing requested six years in prison for the company's CEO and three years in prison for two employees.

I haven't delved into the verdict, but I can see that the court hasn't followed our line on the whole. Now we have three weeks to analyze the verdict and consider what to do, she says when asked about a possible appeal.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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