Västerås, Sweden – A former Swedish politician faces fraud charges following an indictment alleging he fraudulently obtained approximately 430,000 Swedish kroner in income compensation between 2020 and March 2024. The Västmanland Public Prosecutor‘s Office announced the charges today, alleging a systematic scheme too exploit public funds.
The case centers around claims for lost income submitted while the individual served as an elected official, entitling him to compensation from both the City of Västerås and the Västmanland region. Prosecutors contend the former politician submitted applications for 180 instances where no income loss occurred, and inflated the amount of loss in other cases.This alleged misconduct impacts the public finances of both Västerås and the Västmanland region, raising concerns about oversight of elected official compensation. A conviction could result in meaningful penalties, and the case highlights the importance of accountability for public servants.
According to the indictment, the accused applied for and received funds despite having no demonstrable loss of income in 180 seperate instances. In additional cases, the claimed income loss exceeded the actual amount. The total sum of improperly obtained compensation is estimated at around 430,000 Swedish kroner.
“The man has deceived officials in both the City of Västerås and the Västmanland region, thereby receiving significant compensation to which he was not entitled,” stated Prosecutor Frieda Gummesson in a press release. “I consider these crimes to be serious due to their systematic nature and significant value.”
The former politician maintains his innocence and denies any wrongdoing. The case will proceed to trial, where the prosecution will present evidence supporting the charges.
