"The Waste Queen" in court for Think Pink scandal

Think Pink was paid to sort waste, but instead the company dumped hundreds of thousands of tons of waste at 21 locations in Sweden, claims the prosecutor. Now the trial of Sweden's largest environmental crime has begun. At the center is the company's CEO Bella Nilsson, known as the "Queen of trash".

» Updated: October 08 2024

» Published: September 03 2024

"The Waste Queen" in court for Think Pink scandal
Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

What is described as Sweden's largest environmental scandal has finally landed in court, as the nearly 100-day-long main hearing in the Think Pink scandal began on Tuesday at Attunda District Court in Sollentuna.

Eleven people are charged in the case, but it was the CEO, known as Bella Nilsson, the face of now-bankrupt Think Pink, who was the clear main person of the day.

Does not answer questions

Wearing a pair of large, dark sunglasses, she arrived last at the court, and a small commotion ensued as photographers and journalists pushed to get to the so-called "Waste Queen."

Nilsson, who has since changed her name, did not answer any questions, instead pushing away the reporters' microphones and entering the courtroom.

Like the other ten, she denies any wrongdoing.

Among the other defendants are Bella Nilsson's former husband Thomas Nilsson, with whom she founded the company, and TV profile Leif-Ivan Karlsson.

The eleven defendants are suspected of being behind the illegal dumping of hundreds of thousands of tons of waste at 21 locations in central Sweden between 2015 and 2020. The waste, mainly construction and demolition waste, was supposed to be sorted but was instead crushed and left in piles or buried, according to the indictment.

The waste has been left near water protection areas, unprotected stormwater drains, residential areas, and protected coastal areas.

During Tuesday's hearing, the prosecutors presented aerial photographs of several of the sites, showing Think Pink's pink garbage bags sticking out here and there in the vast waste collections.

As you saw, there are enormous amounts of waste at some of the sites, says prosecutor Lise-Lotte Tegler to TT after Tuesday's hearing.

Threat to the environment

The waste has been hazardous both for the environment and for human health.

There are already contaminations in soil and water from these large waste facilities. Over several years, this can lead to harm to both humans and animals, or forever in some places, says Tegler.

She does not want to comment on what the prosecution will be seeking in terms of punishment, but emphasizes that it is not a matter of fines for any of the eleven.

This is a very serious environmental crime, and for that, we have imprisonment in the penalty scale.

Extensive damages are also being sought against the defendants in the case. According to TV4 News, the total amount is 262 million kronor.

The charges against the eleven people in the Think Pink scandal are the largest environmental crime case to have landed in a Swedish court. The preliminary investigation consists of around 50,000 pages.

The locations covered by the charges are in 15 municipalities. These are Botkyrka, Eskilstuna, Flen, Gullspång, Haninge, Huddinge, Håbo, Laxå, Norberg, Norrtälje, Skövde, Strängnäs, Uppsala, Västerås, and Östhammar.

Five of the defendants are suspected of gross environmental crime. Four of these are also suspected of economic crime.

One person is charged with aiding and abetting gross environmental crime, and the remaining five in the case are suspected of environmental crime of a normal degree.

Further reading

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Man Sentenced to Psychiatric Care
2 MIN READ

Man Sentenced to Psychiatric Care for Killing Ica Maxi Employee

Sweden Prioritizes Release of Journalist
2 MIN READ

Sweden Prioritizes Release of Journalist Detained in Turkey

Rise in Children Contacting Bris
1 MIN READ

Rise in Children Contacting Bris About Eating Disorders Concerns Experts

Sweden Sees Lowest Deadly Violence
2 MIN READ

Sweden Sees Lowest Deadly Violence Cases in a Decade

New Tool Empowers Parents to
1 MIN READ

New Tool Empowers Parents to Combat Online Grooming Risks

Elderly Man's Death in Ale
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Ale Sparks Murder Investigation

Prince Carl Philip's Secret Alias
1 MIN READ

Prince Carl Philip's Secret Alias Exposed in Sportadmin Data Breach

Child Abuse Images Discovered on
1 MIN READ

Child Abuse Images Discovered on Computer at Swedish Repair Shop

Explosion Rocks Trollhättan Apartment Building,
1 MIN READ

Explosion Rocks Trollhättan Apartment Building, No Injuries Reported

Teenager Seriously Injured in Highway
1 MIN READ

Teenager Seriously Injured in Highway Collision with A-Tractor

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Moved
1 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Moved to High-Security Turkish Prison

SMHI Warns of High Grass
1 MIN READ

SMHI Warns of High Grass Fire Risk in Sweden's Snow-Free Regions

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested
1 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested in Turkey, Press Freedom at Risk

Man in His 30s Found
1 MIN READ

Man in His 30s Found Dead Outdoors in Norrköping; Murder Investigation Launched

Police Car and Fire Truck
1 MIN READ

Police Car and Fire Truck Crash on E4 Injures Officers

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After
2 MIN READ

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After Arrest in Turkey

Europol Looks to Sweden for
2 MIN READ

Europol Looks to Sweden for Tackling Digital Gang Crime

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch
1 MIN READ

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch Fire in Strömstad Residence

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden
1 MIN READ

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden with Temperatures Over 20 Degrees

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap
3 MIN READ

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap to Capture Prey, Study Reveals

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of
3 MIN READ

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of Terrorism and Anti-Turkish Reporting

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes
1 MIN READ

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes Catch Fire at Swedish Hospital

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices
4 MIN READ

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices Soar: 200 Kronor Gift Cards Run Out

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance
3 MIN READ

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance Powers on Minors in Sweden

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at
1 MIN READ

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at Rare Solar Eclipse with Welding Masks

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected to Be Released Soon in Turkey

Police Struggle to Keep Up
3 MIN READ

Police Struggle to Keep Up as Online Radicalization Surges

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse
3 MIN READ

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29: How to Safely Watch

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment
1 MIN READ

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment Fire; Police Investigate

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested in Turkey Without Charge Details

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel
1 MIN READ

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel Murder Appeals 14-Year Sentence

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium
1 MIN READ

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium System Halt in Västra Götaland

Teen Arrested After Man Shot
1 MIN READ

Teen Arrested After Man Shot in Gothenburg Residential Area

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits
1 MIN READ

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits Apartments in Arlöv Near Malmö

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Five Hospitalized Following Serious Car Crash Near Surahammar

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for
1 MIN READ

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for Summertime Transition

Man in His 70s Dies
1 MIN READ

Man in His 70s Dies in Drowning Accident in Jämtland

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to
1 MIN READ

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to Reconnect Users

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor
1 MIN READ

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor Aid to Myanmar Earthquake Relief

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil
1 MIN READ

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil Water Due to Waterworks Issue