Dan Lucas: anti-corruption Legislation in Sweden was weak

How can it be possible that the group Telia admits to bribery appeared in the deal with Uzbekistan, that the company had to pay billions in fines to the united states and the Netherlands for the corrupt business – and yet they which be responsible managers at the time free?

The simple answer is the notion that in Sweden there are not corruption, i.e., the legislation is weak.

So it was in each case until 2012 when mutlagstiftningen tightened. If the outcome have been different with the modern legislation it is impossible to say, but then the bribes must have been paid during the years 2007-2010, the court has had to judge according to the law which applied at that time.

Tomas Zanders comment that ”the recipient of the alleged bribes covered by the limited circle of persons which at this time could be made responsible for bribery.”

Lagskärpningen also came as a reaction to the revelations about just corruption, not least, the second part published today in Gothenburg 2010.

a Few years earlier, in 2003, reported to the police Systembolaget, a long line of store managers. They had allowed themselves to be invited on trips and present of the suppliers in exchange for those vendors ' goods got a better exposure in stores.

searched a british journalist me up. He would like to have the background to write about the affair. I asked why he was interested in.

He stared surprised at me and said:

" it's happening here, in Sweden. Who would have thought it?

It says a lot about how strong the image has been: that corruption is something that does not occur in Sweden.

When I explained to my british colleague that many of the store managers didn't see the trips and the presents as bribes, but as a pleasant competition, he became even more surprised:

" How could they not do it?

would have been more bruised in recent years. Korruptionsskandalerna that has shaken a number of authorities, that the national property board, the Police and the Swedish transport administration, for example, have affected the image.

last year, dropped Sweden four points in the antikorruptionsorganisationen Transparency International's list. This meant that Sweden now stands out as the most corrupt country.

Transparency measures the perception of corruption. So maybe it is actually a healthy sign that Sweden slipped down a few points. It would in that case show that the swedes have become less naive and more aware that corruption actually occurs here. And therefore be more vigilant.

also Read: All three bosses acquitted

Read also: ”He is relieved, of course,”

Read also: the Dictator's daughter was the key person